Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell on Tuesday doubled down on her insistence that there is no evidence of widespread political discrimination within the agency — even when presented with evidence that employees have acknowledged it as a common practice.
Earlier this month, revelations surfaced that FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington instructed relief workers canvassing Lake Placid, Fla., to evade homes with 2024 campaign signs backing now-President-elect Donald Trump. Criswell denounced Washington’s actions.
“The evidence that I have seen so far shows that this was an isolated incident, and it has not gone beyond what this one employee did,” Criswell told lawmakers during a House Oversight Committee hearing.
“We have not finished our investigation. We have been working with the Office of the Inspector General. It was also referred to the Office of Special Counsel for a potential violation of the Hatch Act. And I have asked the Inspector General to do a full review of this incident.”
During a hearing recess, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s (R-Ky.) staff made contact with a “new whistleblower” who claimed that a FEMA contractor who visited the home of a disabled veteran’s family last month encouraged them to get rid of Trump campaign signs on their property.
“He warned the family that his FEMA supervisors do not take kindly to Trump supporters and that they seem like domestic terrorists,” Comer explained when the hearing resumed, noting that the family removed the sign.
“Nevertheless, FEMA has not returned to their residence. This took place not in Florida, but Georgia.”
An official at FEMA corroborated Washington’s assertions, telling The Post last week that skipping houses with Trump banners and “white or conservative-dominated” disaster areas was common practice — which was noted by several lawmakers at the hearing.
In response to questions about The Post’s reporting, Criswell only told lawmakers that the situation is “still under investigation.”
“We are working with the inspector general to determine whether or not this is broader than this, but the evidence that I have seen so far shows that this was an isolated incident, and it has not gone beyond what this one employee did,” she reiterated. --->READ MORE HERE
A whistleblower informed the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday that at least some Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials consider supporters of President-elect Donald Trump to be “domestic terrorists.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) revealed that the “new whistleblower” claimed a FEMA contractor visited the home of an elderly disabled veteran’s family last month and encouraged them to get rid of pro-Trump signage on their property.
“He recommended that the family remove Trump campaign materials and signs from their house and yard, stating that his FEMA supervisors view Trump supporters as domestic terrorists,” Comer wrote on X.
The contractor’s warning terrified the family, which was reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and they promptly complied.
“The elderly homeowners were so frightened by this and afraid that they would not recover their loss that they removed the signs,” Comer said. “Nevertheless, FEMA has not returned to their residence.”
The chairman noted that the alleged incident “took place not in Florida, but Georgia.”
The whistleblower came forward on the same day FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was grilled by the oversight panel on allegations that the agency discriminates against Trump supporters when conducting relief work and offering aid to storm-ravaged communities.
Criswell insisted during the hearing that there is no evidence of widespread political discrimination within FEMA — even when presented with evidence that employees have acknowledged it as a common practice. --->READ MORE HERE
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