House Oversight Committee investigates Tim Walz over China connections
The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Friday in response to his alleged “longstanding connections” to China and entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., made clear that the committee was briefed on the matter in April and July, long before Harris announced Walz as her running mate.
In a post on X, the Oversight Committee wrote, “Chairman James Comer has launched an investigation into Minnesota Governor Timothy Walz, Kamala Harris’s recently announced vice-presidential running mate, following reports detailing the Governor’s longstanding connections to Chinese Communist Party entities and officials.”
The committee further explained, “Mr. Walz has visited China 30 times, served as a fellow at a Chinese institution that maintains a devotion to the CCP, and spoke alongside the President of a Chinese organization the State Department exposed as a CCP effort to influence and co-opt local leaders.”
“FBI briefers recently informed the Committee that the Bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force investigates CCP activity that is similar to China’s engagement with Governor Walz. In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Chairman Comer is now requesting information, documents, and communications related to the CCP-connected entities and officials Governor Walz has engaged and partnered with,” the committee wrote.
Comer’s committee letter to Wray demanded the agency hand over documents related to “any Chinese entity or individual with whom Mr. Walz may have engaged or partnered.”
The letter listed various entities, including the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Chinese Students and Scholars Associations, Confucius Institutes, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States, PRC consulates in the United States and nine others.
The letter demanded, “All documents and communications between the FBI and Governor Walz or the Office of the Governor of Minnesota pertaining to warnings or guidance about subnational government officials engaging with the PRC, CCP, and the CCP’s proxies.”
Comer also pointed out that the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force “investigates exactly the kind of activity that has since come to light about Governor Walz.”
