House lawmakers overseeing FEMA ripped into Administrator Deanne Criswell on Thursday, demanding answers after one of her employees instructed relief workers to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skip the homes</a> of Trump supporters in Florida. 
In a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/2024-11-14-TI-Florida-FEMA-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> from 35 Republicans on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee shared with The Daily Wire, the lawmakers said that Criswell had failed Americans through her handling of relief efforts after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. They demanded Criswell provide a briefing to discuss guidance first reported on by The Daily Wire from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-fired</a> supervisor Marn’i Washington to bypass homes with Trump signs or flags in Lake Placid. 
“In reporting that first emerged from The Daily Wire, it was revealed that a FEMA supervisor sent a best practices message to FEMA workers canvassing the Florida area impacted by Hurricane Milton, which instructed the workers to ‘avoid homes advertising Trump,’” the letter said. 
The letter was signed by Transportation Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) and Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Chair Scott Perry (R-PA). They requested a briefing on the incident by December 2. 
Whistleblowers told The Daily Wire that around 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. FEMA responded to the report by saying it was an “isolated incident&#8221; and firing Washington. 
The Republicans asked Criswell to provide documents on when officials first found out about the guidance and what they did when they found out about it. A whistleblower complaint was filed on the guidance on October 27, and Washington was fired on November 9. 
“As the FEMA Administrator, you are responsible for leading the Nation’s efforts to prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters. The Committee is troubled that under your leadership FEMA failed to aid all Americans, regardless of party affiliation,” the letter said. 
“Your inability to ensure that FEMA provide relief to all Americans affected by disasters, free of discrimination, represents a substantial failure of leadership. The blatant disregard of  President-elect Trump supporters directly contradicts FEMA’s core mission and values,” they added. 
The lawmakers said that FEMA’s preparedness and readiness had been degraded because of a focus on equity and climate change. They pointed to stories from North Carolina where residents have said that FEMA has been slow to respond after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. 
“It is clear that, under the Biden-Harris Administration, FEMA has been ill-prepared to provide assistance and relief to many Americans in need,” they wrote. “At the briefing, FEMA should be prepared to discuss concerns related to the agency’s failure to aid Americans regardless of party affiliation, including the steps FEMA has taken to assist unaided families, policies implemented to prevent future  political discrimination, and the prevalence at which the agency fell derelict in its duty to assist victims.”
Criswell is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fema-chief-to-face-two-house-grillings-in-one-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to testify</a> before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management on Tuesday morning and the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday afternoon.

Press Secretary Jean-Pierre And FEMA Administrator Criswell Hold White House Media Briefing

‘Failure of Leadership’: Republicans Slam FEMA Chief Over Trump Home Guidance

Florida is suing FEMA for allegedly discriminating against supporters of President-elect Donald Trump after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Wire report</a> revealed a supervisor directed relief workers in the Sunshine State to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
The <a href="https://www.myfloridalegal.com/sites/default/files/2024-11/complaint-as-filed.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suit</a>, from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, alleges that FEMA Director Deanne Criswell and now-fired supervisor Marn’i Washington conspired against the civil rights of Trump supporters in Lake Placid, Florida. The suit comes after whistleblowers told The Daily Wire they were directed to bypass the homes of people with Trump flags or yard signs when canvassing homes in Lake Placid to see if they qualified for hurricane assistance after Hurricane Milton. 
“While the facts will continue to come out over the weeks and months, it is already clear that Defendant Washington conspired with senior FEMA officials, as well as those carrying out her orders, to violate the civil rights of Florida citizens,” the suit says.  
The suit, which cites reporting from The Daily Wire, accuses both Criswell and Washington of illegally depriving Trump supporters of federal aid. Moody filed the suit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Pierce Division. 
“Hurricane season is not over, and the federal agency in charge of emergency response is embroiled in scandal – caught withholding aid from storm victims in Florida who support President Trump,” Moody said in a statement. “I am taking swift legal action to find out how far this political discrimination reaches and to make sure all Americans who fall victim to devastating storms are served, regardless of their political affiliation.”
The suit also points to an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> Washington gave to Roland Martin, where she said that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. Criswell has claimed the guidance was an “isolated incident” and not in accordance with FEMA policy. 
“Defendant Washington says that similar conduct occurred in North Carolina and throughout areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” the suit said. “And she represents that senior FEMA officials claiming not to know that the agency was discriminating against Trump supporters are promoting a ‘lie.’”
Moody asked FEMA to award damages to the defendants and for the court to declare that the agency had violated the civil rights of Floridians. 
FEMA told The Daily Wire that it does not comment on pending litigation, and pointed to a statement from Criswell condemning the guidance to skip Trump homes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that he backed the lawsuit and has announced that the state&#8217;s Division of Emergency Management is also investigating the incident.
“It’s unacceptable for the federal government to discriminate against Floridians who voted for Trump, and especially egregious in the aftermath of a hurricane,” he said, adding that he has “instructed state agencies to likewise take any action necessary to investigate and ensure those who engaged in this behavior are held accountable.&#8221;
Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Michigan Holds Its Primary Election

Florida Sues FEMA For ‘Conspiring’ To Deny Disaster Relief To Trump Supporters

Discrimination

Donald Trump

FEMA

Florida

Hurricane Milton

Ron DeSantis

Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rand-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rand Paul</a> (R-KY) demanded Tuesday that top Biden administration officials determine whether guidance from a FEMA employee for relief workers in Florida to skip homes with Trump signs was an isolated incident.
Paul, citing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting</a> from The Daily Wire, <a href="https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024.11.12_Letter-to-FEMA-from-Ranking-Member-Paul.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to preserve all documents related to guidance instructing relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” FEMA has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since fired</a> Marn’i Washington, the employee who issued the guidance, saying they believe it was an “isolated incident.”
“I write to request information regarding recent reports that a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official instructed federal employees deployed to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton to withhold disaster assistance from homeowners displaying political signs in support of President-elect Donald Trump,” Paul wrote in a letter.
“These allegations of discrimination by FEMA employees based on the political beliefs of disaster victims raise serious questions about FEMA’s ability to impartially administer disaster relief to Americans,” the Kentucky Republican added.
On Tuesday, Washington <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Roland Martin</a> that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Paul, the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said that the Biden administration needed to preserve all records related to the incident, including when officials first became aware of the guidance.
A whistleblower complaint was filed with DHS on October 27, FEMA only removed Washington from her role on November 8, after The Daily Wire report.
“While I commend you for your swift action to terminate the employee, this does not appear to be an isolated incident. It is alleged that FEMA workers received similar instructions when responding to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina,” Paul wrote. “This politically motivated discrimination is unacceptable and must be investigated to ensure that FEMA administers disaster relief funds appropriated by Congress fairly and transparently.”
He also asked them to provide a list of any other examples of “political discrimination” FEMA may have records of or been alerted to. Paul requests the officials to respond to his letter by November 26. A flurry of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fema-chief-to-face-two-house-grillings-in-one-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-to-investigate-fema-after-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state</a> investigations was launched after The Daily Wire reported on the Trump sign guidance last week.

Secret Service Budget Concerns Delay Homeland Spending Bill

Senator Questions Whether FEMA Guidance To Skip Trump Homes Was ‘Isolated Incident’

Alejandro Mayorkas

Congress

Department of Homeland Security

Rand Paul

U.S.

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> announced Wednesday that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-expected-to-tap-stephen-miller-for-top-policy-position" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stephen Miller</a> would be returning to the White House to be his Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor.
Miller, who was a top policy advisor and speechwriter for Trump during his first term, recently worked as senior advisor to Trump’s campaign and the president of <a href="https://aflegal.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America First Legal</a>. Miller is known for his strong advocacy for securing the border and deporting illegal immigrants and helped develop Trump’s immigration policy during his first administration.
America First Legal, which was formed in 2021, has made a name for itself by filing lawsuits challenging the Biden administration and woke corporations. Most recently, it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-strikes-down-biden-parole-program-for-half-a-million-illegal-immigrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won a lawsuit</a> against an illegal immigrant parole program rolled out by the Department of Homeland Security.
Miller has promised a major crackdown on illegal immigration, and reducing legal migration into the United States as well.
“Any activists who doubt President Trump’s resolve in the slightest are making a drastic error: Trump will unleash the vast arsenal of federal powers to implement the most spectacular migration crackdown,” Miller said last year.
Trump made the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113477113500861692" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement</a> on Wednesday, noting that he had tapped Dan Scavinio, James Blair, and Taylor Budowich for other key White House roles.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Scavinio will be an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for Trump, who referred to him as one of his “longest serving and most trusted aides.” Scavino was another member of Trump’s re-election team.
Blair will be an assistant to the president and the deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs. During Trump’s 2024 campaign, Blair worked as the political director for the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. According to Trump, Blair managed “hundreds of staff” and oversaw “a wide portfolio of political operations and programs” during the campaign.
Budowich will be an assistant to Trump and serve as the deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. He previously held a senior role in several pro-Trump political action committees.
&#8220;Dan, Stephen, James, and Taylor were &#8216;best in class&#8217; advisors on my winning campaign and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House,&#8221; Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113477113500861692">statement</a>. &#8220;They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles.&#8221;

Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump Campaigns In Pennsylvania

‘Best In Class’: Trump Picks Stephen Miller For Top Policy Position

Executive

Politics

Stephen Miller

Trump Administration

White House

A second House committee announced Tuesday that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEMA</a> Director Deanne Criswell would be questioned on guidance issued from a now-fired supervisor for relief workers in Florida to “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoid homes advertising Trump</a>.”
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure <a href="https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=407866" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Criswell would be grilled next Tuesday on guidance from FEMA employee Marn’i Washington for workers in Lake Placid to skip homes with Trump flags or signs. The guidance was first reported on by The Daily Wire last week, prompting a flurry of investigations at the federal and state level.
The probe from the Transportation Committee will be led by members of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. The subcommittee said Tuesday that it expanded its probe of “troubling reports that emergency aid was not reaching disaster victims” after recent hurricanes into the guidance advising workers to skip Trump homes.
“More recently, additional reports have surfaced that some FEMA officials may have de-prioritized assisting homes displaying Trump for President campaign signs. Subcommittee Members will have the opportunity to raise these issues and others at next week’s hearing,” the committee said in a statement.
Criswell’s appearance before the subcommittee will come before she goes to the House Oversight Committee to testify.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) indicated that the committee would ask Criswell about Washington’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuesday interview</a> with Roland Martin, where she claimed FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. She said that FEMA’s suggestion that she made an independent decision to avoid certain homes is a mischaracterization, stating that it is agency policy.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
“Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know,” Washington added. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oversight-committee-to-grill-fema-chief-over-directive-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-desantis-warns-biden-to-preserve-all-evidence-on-fema-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state investigations</a> have been launched into FEMA to probe its policies for providing aid. FEMA has not responded to allegations from Washington, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Donald Trump For President Merchandise

FEMA Chief To Face Two House Grillings In One Day

House Oversight Committee

James Comer

The House Oversight Committee announced Tuesday that FEMA Commissioner Deanne Criswell will testify next week on guidance from a government employee who ordered relief workers in Florida to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skip homes</a> displaying signs or flags supporting President-elect Donald Trump. 
Lawmakers will question Criswell about guidance, first reported by The Daily Wire, from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since-fired</a> FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington for relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Criswell last week requesting that she appear before the committee to discuss the guidance and its handling of recent hurricanes. 
“FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be testifying before our committee next Tuesday. We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and more,” the House Oversight Committee posted on X. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 BREAKING: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be testifying before our committee next Tuesday. We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and more. <a href="https://t.co/mMv6yMzbf2">https://t.co/mMv6yMzbf2</a>
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1856406660845015346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Comer indicated that the committee would ask Criswell about Washington’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuesday interview</a> with Roland Martin, where she claimed FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. She said that FEMA’s suggestion that she made an independent decision to avoid certain homes is a mischaracterization, stating that it is agency policy.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
“Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know,” Washington added. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs">READ MORE: FEMA Official Ordered Relief Workers To Skip Houses With Trump Signs</a>
Multiple government employees from the relief team told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. The employees said this guidance was given both verbally, as well as in a group chat used by the relief team and viewed by The Daily Wire. 
Comer wrote Criswell on Saturday demanding that she appear for a hearing in Washington, D.C., on November 19 at 2:00 p.m. 
“This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” Comer wrote. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oversight-committee-to-grill-fema-chief-over-directive-to-skip-trump-homes">Federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-desantis-warns-biden-to-preserve-all-evidence-on-fema-scandal">state investigations</a> have been launched into FEMA to probe its policies for providing aid. FEMA has not responded to allegations from Washington, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

White House Holds Press Briefing

FEMA Chief To Testify Before Lawmakers On Instruction To Skip Trump Supporters’ Homes

The FEMA supervisor who was fired after The Daily Wire revealed she directed disaster relief workers in Florida to &#8220;avoid homes&#8221; with signs advertising Donald Trump said on Tuesday that this was not an &#8220;isolated&#8221; incident, and is likely happening in disaster areas across the country. 
Marn&#8217;i Washington said that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes during an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5SP0jIZPs0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Roland Martin. She said that FEMA&#8217;s suggestion that she made an independent decision to avoid certain homes is a mischaracterization, stating that it is agency policy.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,&#8221; Washington said. &#8220;This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.&#8221;
&#8220;Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know,&#8221; Washington said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Fired FEMA employee does first interview with <a href="https://twitter.com/rolandsmartin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rolandsmartin</a>, says her team&#8217;s avoidance of homes in Florida was not an &#8220;isolated&#8221; incident
&#8220;This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/aCrTr6V771">pic.twitter.com/aCrTr6V771</a>
— Leif Le Mahieu (@leif_lemahieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/leif_lemahieu/status/1856365388071669903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
FEMA fired Washington on Saturday after The Daily Wire reported that whistleblowers said she directed them verbally and in a group chat to “avoid homes advertising Trump&#8221; when canvassing in Highlands County, Florida. 
FEMA told The Daily Wire on Friday that the guidance was an “isolated incident” and not approved by the agency. 
“The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs">READ MORE: FEMA Official Ordered Relief Workers To Skip Houses With Trump Signs</a>
Washington said incident reports would substantiate incidents of avoidance because of “political hostility.” She asserted that there was a “community trend” of “hostility” coming from people with Trump yard signs or flags in Lake Placid. She said some examples of hostility included people saying things like &#8220;I don&#8217;t like FEMA,&#8221; &#8220;You&#8217;re part of the Biden-Harris campaign,&#8221; &#8220;You guys are lying to people,&#8221; and &#8220;You&#8217;re not helping people.&#8221; In one specific example, Washington said some workers were told to &#8220;drain the swamp and some other kind of crazy statements.&#8221; 
“FEMA’s very well aware of the incidents that take place, not just with my crew, but with all the crews in the states,” she said. 
Washington told Martin that her supervisors approved her avoidance of certain streets in Lake Placid. She showed a text message that she says was sent to a supervisor saying that one road was “politically hostile” and “we are not canvassing this street further.” The supervisor reportedly responded, “Great decision. Thanks for the update.” 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oversight-committee-to-grill-fema-chief-over-directive-to-skip-trump-homes">Federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-desantis-warns-biden-to-preserve-all-evidence-on-fema-scandal">state investigations</a> have been launched into FEMA to probe its policies for providing aid. FEMA has not responded to allegations from Washington, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Daily Wire has requested an interview with Washington.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters in Washington, DC

Fired FEMA Employee Speaks Out, Says It Was Not ‘Isolated’ Incident: ‘Colossal Event Of Avoidance’

North Carolina

A judge will decide the future of President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>’s New York criminal convictions on Tuesday as he considers throwing out the entire case.
Trump’s legal team <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-judge-merchan-decide-whether-dismiss-trump-guilty-verdict-bragg-case-after-election-win" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has argued</a> that Judge Juan Merchan should dismiss the case and his 34 convictions on falsifying business records charges because of presidential immunity doctrine. The president-elect’s legal team has said that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg rushed the case for political reasons and did not consider presidential immunity when he brought the case to trial. 
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sentencing-delayed-until-after-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">case stems from</a> Trump being accused of improperly masking reimbursements to repay his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence on an alleged extramarital affair by classifying them as legal expenses. A Manhattan jury convicted Trump in May on the charges. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and said that Bragg was engaging in politically motivated “election interference.”
The appeal from Trump’s legal team to dismiss the case refers to the Supreme Court’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/supreme-court-rules-trump-has-immunity-for-official-acts-likely-delays-trial-past-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6-3 decision</a> in Trump v. United States, which said presidents cannot be prosecuted for exercising core constitutional powers and are entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for official acts. 
Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s lawyers, said that Bragg used testimony and evidence that should have been inadmissible during the trial. He <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-judge-merchan-decide-whether-dismiss-trump-guilty-verdict-bragg-case-after-election-win" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Bragg &#8220;violated the Presidential immunity doctrine by using similar official-acts evidence in the grand jury proceedings that gave rise to the politically motivated charges in this case.&#8221; 
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;The Presidential immunity doctrine recognized in Trump pertains to all ‘criminal proceedings,’ including grand jury proceedings when a prosecutor ‘seeks to charge’ a former President using evidence of official acts,” Blanche wrote in a filing earlier this year.
If Merchan does not throw out the case or set a new trial, Trump is expected to be sentenced on November 26. The judge said in September that he moved sentencing until after the election to “dispel any suggestion that the Court will have issued any decision or imposed sentence either to give an advantage to, or to create a disadvantage for, any political party and or any candidate for any office.”
Trump has also attempted to move the case away from Merchan to a federal court but has so far been rebuffed.
In a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/10/donald-trump-new-york-hush-money-sentencing/76108866007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to USA Today on the case, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that Trump had been given &#8220;an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again.&#8221;
&#8220;It is now abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, so we can, as President Trump said in his historic victory speech, unify our country and work together for the betterment of our nation,&#8221; Cheung said.

Celebrity Sightings In New York City – April 04, 2023

Judge To Determine What Happens Next With Trump’s New York Criminal Case

Alvin Bragg

Courts

Juan Merchan

Manhattan

New York

U.S. Politics

Residents of a small Florida city were shocked to find out their homes were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skipped by federal relief workers</a> because of a directive from a FEMA supervisor telling them to bypass the homes of people with Trump flags or signs. 
Reactions poured in from Lake Placid residents after they learned that a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-fired</a> FEMA supervisor had instructed relief workers to “avoid homes advertising Trump” as they canvassed the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Whistleblowers told The Daily Wire, which first reported on the guidance, that at least 20 homes were skipped from late October and into early November because of the directive. 
Angela Wrench, whose property was damaged by tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton last month, said it was wrong that her home was skipped because of the Trump flag in her yard. 
“I think it’s horrible. I think it’s a horrible thing that anybody thought that was OK,” Wrench <a href="https://www.wfla.com/news/highlands-county/its-horrible-lake-placid-residents-respond-to-anti-trump-former-fema-worker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> local outlet WFLA. “We pay our taxes. We have just as much right to that money as anyone. It shouldn’t have anything to do with our political beliefs, none whatsoever.”
Wrench said that FEMA showed up to her house on Saturday, a day after The Daily Wire report was published. 
“I said ‘you are here because of the news, correct?’ They didn’t want to answer right away but one of them did finally say ‘yes, we’re just here trying to make things right’,” she told WFLA. 
Jack Wolfe, another resident of Lake Placid, said that relief decisions should not be made for political reasons. 
“It was disappointing. I know that there’s a lot of people with a lot of emotions when it comes to this time of year for election and I don’t think it should matter how you voted or who you are,” Wolfe told WFLA. 
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced Saturday that Marn’i Washington, the employee who issued the guidance, had been fired and that the agency believed it was an “isolated incident.” 
Local and federal officials were quick to condemn the actions of Washington. Lake Placid is located in Highlands County, which voted 70% for Trump in last week&#8217;s election. 
Congressman Scott Franklin, who represents Lake Placid, called the guidance “utterly disgusting” and told his constituents to call his office if they had issues with FEMA. 
“I commend the individual who had the courage to bring this to light, as well as FEMA for taking swift action to terminate the supervisor who instructed disaster relief workers in Highlands County to &#8216;avoid&#8217; assisting pro-Trump homes,” he said. 
“FEMA must conduct a full investigation,” he added. “Similar reports have surfaced across the state, and those responsible must be held accountable. The agency must take immediate action to ensure this never happens again.”
 Highlands County commissioner Chris Campbell said that residents of Lake Placid would be receiving more visits from FEMA.
“For a supervisor of FEMA to do that, I think it was just appalling. It shocked everyone,” Campbell said. “They’re going to knock on every door, whether they applied for assistance or not, whether they received it or not and just go through the process.” 

Investigations at the state and federal level have been launched into FEMA and Criswell has been asked to speak in front of the House Oversight Committee on November 19.

‘I Think It’s Horrible’: Florida Residents React After FEMA Workers Skip Homes Because Of Trump Flags, Signs

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) announced Sunday an investigation into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after whistleblowers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Daily Wire</a> that they were instructed to skip the homes of people with Trump signs or flags while providing hurricane relief in Florida. 
Lee said that he would be working with the state&#8217;s attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, to determine whether any residents of Tennessee were discriminated against by FEMA employees during the agency’s response to Hurricane Helene. 
The direction comes after The Daily Wire reported that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-fired</a> FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington told federal employees under her supervision to “avoid homes advertising Trump” as they canvassed Lake Placid, Florida, to identify residents who could qualify for federal aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Federal employees told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the directive, which was given verbally and in writing. 
“FEMA exists to serve all Americans, and these actions have eroded the people’s trust by failing to deliver desperately needed relief to all hurricane survivors,” Lee said in a statement first shared with The Daily Wire. 
“Americans should never have the government weaponized against them. I am working with the Tennessee Attorney General to seek answers and determine whether Tennesseans were discriminated against, and look forward to President Trump taking swift action to remove partisan bureaucrats when he takes office,” Lee added. 
Skrmetti said that the state would get answers from FEMA about the guidance.
&#8220;When natural disasters strike, our federal government should prioritize the well-being of survivors above all else. It is a moral abomination to abandon Americans during a crisis because of their political preferences,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We will demand answers from FEMA about whether political discrimination happened in Tennessee and work with the Governor&#8217;s office and the U.S. Department of Justice to secure the most severe consequences possible for any bureaucrats who put politics over people.&#8221;
Portions of east Tennessee were hammered by flooding caused from Hurricane Helene and some areas went weeks without hearing from FEMA. In Roan Mountain, Tennessee, for example, locals <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-a-small-tennessee-town-survived-helene-after-the-emergency-response-floundered" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Daily Wire it took nearly two weeks for FEMA to show up. 
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced Saturday that Washington had been fired and that her actions were “reprehensible.” 
“We take our mission to help everyone before, during and after disasters seriously. This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,” Criswell said. 
A number of other investigations have been launched into FEMA after The Daily Wire report. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced that his state’s Division of Emergency Management would be looking into the federal agency. Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oversight-committee-to-grill-fema-chief-over-directive-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plan to investigate</a> as well, and have asked for Criswell to testify before the committee on November 19.

Storm Helene Causes Massive Flooding Across Swath Of Western North Carolina

Tennessee To Investigate FEMA After Guidance To Skip Trump Homes

Bill Lee

Tennessee

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability announced Saturday it would be holding a hearing to investigate FEMA after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire reported</a> that a federal employee ordered relief workers in Florida to skip the homes of people with signs or flags supporting Donald Trump.
Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell asking that she show up to testify before lawmakers on November 19. The letter comes after whistleblowers told The Daily Wire that they were instructed by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-fired</a> FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington to “avoid homes advertising Trump” when offering relief in Lake Placid, Florida.
“This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” Comer wrote in a letter to Criswell.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨BREAKING🚨
I’m calling on FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to appear &amp; testify before the House Oversight Committee at a hearing on November 19.
FEMA has a responsibility to all Americans &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> is committed to ensuring FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission. <a href="https://t.co/5HbWhHsgOI">pic.twitter.com/5HbWhHsgOI</a>
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1855367756276740310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“In the wake of the recent major disasters that impacted Americans of all political persuasions, it is critical that FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission,” Comer added.
Multiple government employees from the relief team told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. The employees said this guidance was given both verbally, as well as in a group chat used by the relief team.
Criswell announced on Saturday that Washington had been fired.
“More than 22,000 FEMA employees every day adhere to FEMA’s core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors. Recently, one FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” she said in a statement. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Criswell said that the incident had been referred to a special counsel for investigation.
“We take our mission to help everyone before, during and after disasters seriously. This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,” she said.
Numerous lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-senator-demands-mayorkas-answer-over-fema-employee-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have announced</a> inquiries into the guidance, including Republican Senators Katie Britt (AL) and Josh Hawley (MO).

Oversight Committee To Grill FEMA Chief Over Directive To Skip Trump Homes

Biden Administration

Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) demanded answers from two top Biden administration officials on Saturday over guidance from a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-fired</a> Federal Emergency Management Agency employee who ordered relief workers in Florida to skip the homes of Trump supporters.
In a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/FILE_9844.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> first shared with The Daily Wire, Britt asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to provide answers about guidance from FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington telling relief workers to “avoid homes advertising Trump” when offering relief in Lake Placid, Florida. This guidance was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported</a> on by The Daily Wire, which spoke with multiple government employees from the relief team who said the instructions led to at least 20 homes being skipped.
“I am writing to express my outrage with recent press reports that, in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Florida, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor instructed relief workers to bypass houses displaying support for President Trump,” Britt wrote.
Britt, the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, said she wanted to know when FEMA found out about the guidance and what actions it had taken to ensure that it wouldn’t happen again.
“It is simply outrageous that any FEMA personnel, let alone a supervisor, would condition aid to victims based on their political views,” she wrote. “I appreciate that Administrator Criswell has condemned these actions and fired the supervisor, but the American people need answers regarding how this happened and if anyone else was complicit, as well as assurance it will not happen again.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Britt asked the two officials if there had been any other whistleblower reports of homes being bypassed for political purposes. She also asked if help had been offered to those people in Lake Placid whose homes had been skipped. She also asked what reasons FEMA had for allowing people to skip homes when canvassing neighborhoods.
“Any disaster funding provided by Congress must be made available to all Americans who are victims of presidentially declared disasters, and cannot be conditioned or delayed based on their political views,” she wrote.
Fellow Republican Senator Josh Hawley (MO) sent a letter on Saturday to Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari urging him to launch a &#8220;comprehensive investigation&#8221; into the incident, citing The Daily Wire report.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FEMA officials discriminated against Trump voters? Totally illegal. I’m asking the Inspector General to launch a full investigation immediately. Everyone involved needs to be identified, fired &#8211; and if necessary, prosecuted <a href="https://t.co/GGoJUcgneb">pic.twitter.com/GGoJUcgneb</a>
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1855349287963783326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Numerous state and federal lawmakers have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-house-gop-investigating-fema-after-official-told-relief-workers-to-ignore-trump-supporters">demanded investigations</a> into FEMA following The Daily Wire’s report, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ordered his state’s Division of Emergency Management to investigate the incident.

Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas Joins White House Daily Press Briefing

EXCLUSIVE: Senator Demands Mayorkas Answer Over FEMA Employee Guidance To Skip Trump Homes

Natural Disaster

Menu