Walz and Ellison Testify in House Fraud Hearing as Jordan Cites Judge’s Statement in Feeding Our Future Dispute
Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison testified at a House hearing on fraud, where Rep. Jim Jordan cited a 2022 statement by Ramsey County Judge John Guthmann saying he never ordered the Minnesota Department of Education to resume reimbursements to Feeding Our Future and accused Walz of trying to "hide behind" a supposed court order. Walz told the committee his earlier remarks reflected what agency attorneys believed at the time and characterized the matter as a misinterpretation, and the hearing came amid DOJ and House Oversight figures noting dozens of related charges — including a DOJ announcement of the 78th Feeding Our Future defendant and a count of 98 defendants charged in Minnesota fraud‑related cases, 85 of whom are of Somali descent.
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. Jim Jordan cited a 2022 court‑authorized statement by Ramsey County District Judge John Guthmann to accuse Gov. Tim Walz of falsely blaming a “court order” for resuming Feeding Our Future payments in April 2021.
- Guthmann’s statement, quoted by Jordan, explicitly says he never ordered the Minnesota Department of Education to resume reimbursements to Feeding Our Future.
- Jordan accused Walz of trying to “hide behind some pretend court order” and pressed him on whether Walz or the court was lying over the dispute.
- Walz told the committee his earlier comments reflected what agency attorneys believed at the time and characterized the situation as a misinterpretation by the Minnesota Department of Education’s lawyers.
- The piece reiterates DOJ’s November announcement charging the 78th Feeding Our Future defendant and cites House Oversight figures that 98 defendants have now been charged in Minnesota fraud‑related cases, 85 of whom are of Somali descent.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Jim Jordan used a 2022 court‑authorized statement by Ramsey County District Judge John Guthmann to accuse Gov. Tim Walz of falsely blaming a 'court order' for resuming Feeding Our Future payments in April 2021.
- Guthmann’s statement, quoted by Jordan, explicitly says he never ordered the Minnesota Department of Education to resume reimbursements to Feeding Our Future.
- Walz told the committee his earlier comments were based on what agency attorneys believed at the time and characterized the issue as a misinterpretation by the Minnesota Department of Education’s lawyers.
- Jordan accused Walz of trying to 'hide behind some pretend court order' and pressed him on whether he or the court was lying, a line of questioning not detailed in the previous coverage.
- The piece reiterates DOJ’s November announcement charging the 78th Feeding Our Future defendant and the House Oversight figure that 98 defendants have now been charged in Minnesota fraud‑related cases, 85 of Somali descent.