"The Department stated that it had taken criminal and civil enforcement actions in matters alleging over $8 billion in pandemic relief fraud, but it is unclear if this is limited to domestic fraud," wrote Wenstrup, chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Of these funds, an estimated $280 billion was stolen from the intended recipients, at least half of which went to criminal actors in Russia, China, and Nigeria, according to Wenstrup. Wenstrup asked Garland for all documents and communications within the DOJ relating to efforts to identify fraud in COVID-19 relief programs by international actors, including the total number of open and closed investigations as well as the total dollar amount for each case.
Wenstrup also requested information on tactics used by overseas actors to"perpetuate these crimes and imperil American citizens personal protected information."The subcommittee is also requesting a DOJ briefing by Sept. 12.