{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fischbach.house.gov/2024/6/house-republicans-demand-additional-information-from-minnesota-education-department-on-250-million-fraud-scheme", "House Republicans Demand Additional Information from Minnesota Education Department on $250 Million Fraud Scheme", "2024-06-14", "2024", "2024-06", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Michelle Fischbach", "F000470", "fischbach.house.gov", "fischbach", "https://fischbach.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) joined Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and five House Republicans, sent a letter to Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett requesting details on the Department\u2019s role in the \u201clargest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation.\u201d The letter comes after the U.S. Attorney charged 70 individuals associated with Feeding Our Future for its alleged role in defrauding the United States Department of Agriculture of over $250 million in taxpayer funds\u2014money intended to feed hungry children.\n\nIn the letter, the members write: \u201cOn April 24, 2024, the first trial began for seven defendants associated with the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF) for their part in defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Federal Child Nutrition Program (FCNP) of over $250 million in taxpayer money. As of today, the U.S. Attorney has charged 70 individuals with federal crimes for benefiting personally from an illegal scheme that diverted $250 million of FCNP funds away from feeding hungry children.\u201d\n\nThe members continue: \u201cWe write today to request additional information as we continue our oversight of the USDA\u2019s and the Minnesota Department of Education\u2019s (MDE) administration of the FCNP and oversight of FOF. Your January 5, 2024, document production to Minnesota\u2019s Office of the Legislative Auditor has led to additional inquiries regarding the USDA\u2019s and the MDE\u2019s involvement in the \u2018largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation.\u2019\u201d\n\nThe members conclude by requesting additional information, including:\n\nEmails, texts, and other communications between the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and organizations the Committee believes may have information that will assist its ongoing investigation. These include communications among and between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of the Governor of Minnesota.\n\nDocuments provided by the MDE to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.\n\nInternal MDE emails, texts, and other communications and documents.\n\nDocumentation related to sponsoring organizations and food distribution sites.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fischbach.house.gov/2024/6/house-republicans-demand-additional-information-from-minnesota-education-department-on-250-million-fraud-scheme"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2825028970837593, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}