House Republicans will "have to bring in" Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, to testify as part of a GOP-led oversight effort to investigate allegations of massive fraud tied to government programs in the state, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said Tuesday.
Last week, independent journalist Nick Shirley reported Minnesota daycare centers fraudulently siphoned large sums of federal subsidies while not providing services.
Whistleblowers said they warned state officials about the alleged scheme and loopholes, but that their concerns were brushed aside.
"The Oversight Committee, we're going to have to bring in Tim Walz," Biggs told Newsmax's "The Chris Salcedo Show."
"We're going to have to bring in some of his adjutants and have them come in and sit down and answer questions.
"We're going to have to get hold of records that they have, and we're going to have to do what the Oversight Committee does: We conduct these investigations and then we make our referrals over to the executive branch, because they have police power," he said.
Biggs said the alleged fraud in Minnesota appears substantial and warrants immediate scrutiny, adding that any Oversight Committee review would center on testimony and documents to determine who knew what, when, and whether whistleblowers were ignored.
He said congressional investigators could seek information on internal communications and compliance failures, saying the Oversight Committee can serve as a backstop when state agencies fail to respond to warnings or close loopholes.
He said the issue may extend beyond a single program and that developments in Minnesota could indicate vulnerabilities in taxpayer-funded systems nationwide.
"This is the type of thing where you just say that is why you get yourself into massive national debt," Biggs said.
"You have a structural deficit that can't be closed. It's because people are grifting so much everywhere."
Biggs did not give a time frame but said a next step could include seeking testimony and records to establish a factual basis for any referrals.
The interview also touched on the importance of protecting whistleblowers who come forward with evidence of wrongdoing.
Biggs said government officials must take such warnings seriously and ensure those who raise concerns are not punished for speaking out.
Biggs' remarks come as congressional Republicans seek to spotlight alleged waste, fraud, and abuse in public spending.
For the congressman, compelling Walz and his aides to appear is a key step toward answers.
"I don't want to sound prejudiced or biased at the start of this thing," he said, "but this is incredible."
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Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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