In a significant development, a Republican-led US House committee has issued a subpoena to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as part of an ongoing investigation into a massive fraud scheme involving pandemic relief funds earmarked for feeding children. The committee, known as the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, has been examining the oversight of federal child nutrition programs by the US Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Education.

The subpoenas, which were also sent to Minnesota's Commissioner of Education, Willie Jett, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong, seek documents and communications related to Feeding Our Future, a non-profit organization alleged to have misappropriated over $250 million in pandemic funds.

Notably, the subpoena does not require Governor Walz to appear in person before the committee. Instead, he is required to submit the requested documents by the deadline of September 18th.

This investigation follows the conviction of five individuals earlier this year for their involvement in the fraud scheme. The trial involving the accused individuals even revealed an attempt to bribe a juror with a bag containing $120,000 in cash left at her home. In total, 70 individuals have been charged in connection with the fraudulent activities.

With Governor Walz's increasing prominence in national politics, questions have arisen regarding his role as Minnesota's top executive and the level of oversight exercised by the state education department, which falls under his purview. Virginia Foxx, the Republican Chairwoman of the committee, wrote a strongly-worded letter to Walz, reminding him of the "multimillion-dollar fraud" that occurred during his tenure.

In response to the subpoena, a spokesperson for Governor Walz described the Feeding our Future case as "an appalling abuse of a federal Covid-era program" and commended the state department of education's efforts in collaborating with the FBI to arrest and charge those involved. Governor Walz has previously defended the department, acknowledging the need for improved oversight following an audit that revealed its deficiencies in detecting fraudulent activities.

Chairwoman Foxx asserted that the committee had previously made voluntary document requests to the Minnesota Department of Education but failed to obtain substantial and relevant materials. The response from Governor Walz's office to the subpoena is awaited.

This subpoena marks a critical step in the ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of pandemic relief funds. As the probe progresses, the authorities seek to ensure greater accountability and prevent future instances of misuse of public funds meant for supporting the most vulnerable populations.

Note: The article has been written based on the information provided, and additional details beyond the given context have not been included.