Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Latest News

House committee demands interviews with FEMA employees about order to avoid Trump supporters’ houses

— The House Homeland Security Committee is demanding interviews with three FEMA employees on possible ‘systemic bias’ against Trump supporters — as the agency deals with fallout from now-fired employee Marn’i Washington telling relief workers to skip houses visibly advertising support for President-elect Trump during recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton.

In a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., asks to speak with three employees who would have been responsible for policy in Florida, where Washington was assigned. Those employees are FEMA Region 4 Administrator Robert Samaan, Deputy Region 4 Administrator Robert Ashe and Chad Hershey, the lead for FEMA’s disaster survivor assistance crew.

The letter cites recent comments by Washington, including to Fox News, that she’s being scapegoated for doing what her superiors told her to do.

Green is joined on the letter by Reps. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., and Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., who chair relevant Homeland Security subcommittees.

‘Ms. Washington’s statement contradicts FEMA’s press release and points to a possibly systemic bias within FEMA against individuals that support President-elect Donald J. Trump,’ the lawmakers said in the letter. ‘If such bias is present within FEMA, the Committee is deeply concerned that households that support President-elect Trump and even neighborhoods consisting of primarily Republican-aligned households might be receiving diminished levels of resources, manpower, and support, significantly protracting recovery following natural disasters.’

Criswell said in a statement after the Daily Wire first reported on Washington’s order that it was ‘reprehensible’ and ‘a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles.’

‘I’m just simply executing, again, what was coming down from my superiors,’ Washington shot back in an interview with Trace Gallagher on ‘Fox News @ Night’ last week.

‘This was the culture. They were already avoiding these homes based on community trends from hostile political encounters,’ Washington also said.

Green’s letter asks that FEMA schedule the interviews with Hershey, Ashe and Samaan by the end of this week. Fox News is also told by a source familiar that the Homeland Security Committee will have another transcribed interview request on FEMA oversight soon.

‘If [Washington] is right and there is a broader ‘policy’ of discriminatory practices in the agency’s recovery efforts, this Committee will demand accountability from the highest levels,’ Green said in a statement to Fox News.

Washington emphasized to Fox News that FEMA prioritizes ‘avoidance’ and ‘de-escalation’ in situations where some employees may feel unsafe, and that isn’t necessarily politically targeted at Trump supporters. This could include other situations, like urban areas where there are unleashed dogs, she said.

Washington told Gallagher that discriminating against people explicitly because of political leanings would violate the Hatch Act, but said ‘unfortunately, again, the passionate supporters for Trump, some of them were a little bit violent.’

Criswell will nevertheless face a congressional grilling Tuesday. She appears before a House Transportation & Infrastructure subcommittee at 10 a.m. EST and then will testify to the House Oversight Committee at 2 p.m. EST.

Fox News’ Trace Gallagher and Melissa Summers contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

You May Also Like

Latest News

In what could potentially be President Biden’s last foreign diplomacy trip, he will soon head to South America to meet with global leaders, including...

Latest News

Ranked choice voting suffered a blow as several states, including Nevada, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho rejected measures last week. In Colorado, Proposition 131 would...

Investing

Cobalt market watchers are warning that a near-term resurgence in prices and demand may not occur. Cobalt prices have spent most of 2024 on...

Latest News

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., won unanimous approval from Republican lawmakers earlier this week to lead the House of Representatives next year, but some...

Disclaimer: Earlyagenda.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.


Copyright © 2024 Earlyagenda.com