New whistleblower disclosures have cast a shadow over Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, revealing alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The GOP-led House Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative James Comer (R-KY), announced on Monday that it is issuing a subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for critical documents relating to Walz’s connections to the CCP.

The surprising reports come from whistleblower disclosures that point to a non-classified Microsoft Teams group chat among DHS employees—under the title “NST NFT Bi-Weekly Sync”—containing sensitive information about Governor Walz and his alleged connections to the CCP. Further intelligence reports, both classified and unclassified, are said to contain additional details on these troubling claims.

In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the Committee expressed its concerns about the long-term relationship between Governor Walz and the CCP, suggesting the Chinese regime has attempted to infiltrate subnational leadership in the U.S. through strategic relationships with prominent figures, including state governors. The letter indicates that the Committee has been investigating CCP influence on federal and state leadership for some time, but this new information regarding Governor Walz raises the stakes considerably.

In the letter to Secretary Mayorkas, the Committee stated, “If a state governor and major political party’s nominee for Vice President of the United States has been a witting or unwitting participant in the CCP’s efforts to weaken our nation, this would strongly suggest that there are alarming weaknesses in the federal government’s effort to defend the United States from the CCP’s political warfare.”

The Committee argued that the CCP views the United States as its “main enemy” and has been engaged in a broad campaign to influence American policymakers, particularly at the state and local levels. The whistleblower disclosures, according to Chairman Comer, indicate that Walz may have been part of this effort, either knowingly or unwittingly. Comer issued a subpoena to DHS, demanding the release of all intelligence reports, documents, and communications related to Governor Walz’s alleged connections to the CCP. The Oversight Committee believes these documents will shed light on how successful the CCP has been in infiltrating U.S. political circles and what the federal government is doing to combat these efforts.

“We have learned of the emphasis the CCP has placed on influencing subnational government leaders, including state governors,” said the Committee in its letter. “The information required of DHS by the Committee’s subpoena will inform the Committee’s understanding of how successful the CCP has been in waging political warfare in and against the United States, how effectively federal agencies are addressing the communist regime’s campaign, and what reforms are necessary to counter this threat.”

While it’s still unclear how this investigation will play out, the political implications are enormous. Governor Walz has not yet commented publicly on the matter, but his potential connection to the CCP is likely to become a major talking point in the coming weeks as the 2024 election cycle heats up. If the allegations hold water, it could not only derail his political ambitions but also shake public confidence in the Democratic Party’s ability to fend off foreign influence.

The Committee also hinted that further legislative action could be taken to address vulnerabilities in federal agencies tasked with combating foreign influence.