GOP Demands FBI Hand Over Tim Walz Intel
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has renewed his push for transparency from the FBI by sending a letter on Thursday demanding the release of documents concerning Democrat Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz. Comer is seeking information on Walz’s connections to a research institute with links to China, which collaborates with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)—the facility suspected of being at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Comer initially reached out to FBI Director Christopher Wray on August 16, requesting details about Walz’s associations with Chinese entities during his tenure as governor of Minnesota. Subsequent reports by the Washington Examiner revealed that Walz had supported the Hormel Institute, a Minnesota-based medical research center that has partnerships with the WIV, which is managed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
In his latest correspondence, Comer criticized the FBI’s lack of response to these concerns. “The FBI’s inaction on Mr. Walz’s known connections to CCP affiliates is unacceptable,” Comer asserted. He highlighted that while in Congress, Walz reportedly secured over $2 million and advocated for a $5 million federal earmark for the Hormel Institute. The institute has a history of collaboration with the WIV, which is closely tied to the CCP and linked to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Comer brought attention to Walz’s extensive visits to China, including trips for personal and educational purposes. He mentioned that a 1993 trip was partially funded by the Chinese government. Comer also noted Walz’s role as a fellow at Macau Polytechnic University, an institution associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative—a program linked to Beijing’s political strategies.
Comer’s letter emphasizes concerns that Walz’s engagements with Chinese organizations might have influenced his decisions as a congressman and governor, and potentially could impact U.S. policy if he were to become vice president. Comer has requested the relevant documents by September 19 to further investigate these issues.
