If you watch politics, you've seen those moments when you know a political career just ended. Governor Mike Dukakis's ill-fated ride in a tank, Howard Dean's infamous scream - we've all seen them, those magic moments when you can point at the television screen and say, "See that? A political career just ended."
Some political careers, though, end over a matter of days or weeks. It's as Ernest Hemingway wrote in The Sun Also Rises: "Gradually, then suddenly." That's what has happened to Minnesota's hoptoad-eyed Governor Tim Walz, who, as my colleagues Teri Christophe and Rusty Weiss have been covering, has withdrawn his re-election bid.
That was probably the smart thing to do. But soon-to-be former Governor Walz is not going to be able to just walk away. The U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee, it seems, are going to have some questions for him.
NEW: House Oversight Committee Chairman @RepJamesComer releases statement after MN Gov. @Tim_Walz announces he will not seek re-election.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 5, 2026
“Massive fraud of taxpayer dollars occurred on Tim Walz’s watch. He’s either complicit in this theft or grossly incompetent in preventing it.…
The post continues:
Though Tim Walz is not running for governor again, he cannot run from accountability. The House Oversight Committee demands that he appear for a public hearing on February 10 to expose this fraud and begin the process of accountability. The American people deserve answers, and they deserve them now.
It's not clear precisely what measures the House Oversight Committee can take, especially if Governor Walz is already leaving office; bear in mind he is not (as yet) resigning, just withdrawing his re-election candidacy. But a whole lot of fraud of American taxpayer dollars went on while Tim Walz was ostensibly the guy in charge, and while he may claim to have not known all this was going on, there's an awful lot of smoke there for there not to be a fire in there someplace.
Read More: It's Official – Tim Walz Won't Seek Reelection As His Political Career Goes Down in Flames
Report: Tim Walz Set to Bail on 2026 MN Governor's Race As Fraud Scandal Engulfs His Administration
The House Oversight press release on the topic says in part:
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating the extensive money laundering and fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs that has been uncovered by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota. Chairman Comer has called on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to provide documents, communications, and records about widespread fraud that occurred under their watch. He has also called on them to appear for a public hearing on February 10, 2026.
Chairman Comer has also requested the U.S. Department of the Treasury provide all relevant Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to support the Committee’s investigation into fraud in Minnesota. Chairman Comer has also requested transcribed interviews with several Minnesota state officials.
It's unclear if any legal consequences will derive from this for anyone involved, but it's still appropriate for Tim Walz to have to answer some pointed questions. He was governor while this was going on; someone's name is always on the blame line, and in Minnesota, in this case, that name is Tim Walz.
The hearing will be, as noted, on February 10th. Stay tuned!
Editor’s Note: Help us continue to report the truth about corrupt politicians like Tim "Great Walz of China."
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