EXCLUSIVE: America First Legal Takes Aim At FEMA Over ‘Egregious’ First Amendment Violations

America First Legal on Wednesday launched an investigation into FEMA over guidance from an employee for relief workers in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump,” according to letters first shared with The Daily Wire. 

The conservative legal firm filed a Freedom of Information request demanding FEMA turn over records and communications involving fired FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington, who instructed workers responding in Lake Placid, Florida to pass over homes with Trump flags or signs. America First Legal, citing reporting from The Daily Wire, also requested that Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari open up a full investigation into the allegations of relief aid being withheld for political reasons. 

“For four years, the Biden-Harris Administration and its pro-censorship allies have waged war on Americans’ freedom of speech,” America First Lawyer Will Scolinos told The Daily Wire. “This latest example may be the most egregious yet — denying hurricane relief assistance due to FEMA employees’ vendetta against President Trump and the Americans brave enough to publicly support him from their homes.”

Since the news broke that workers bypassed at least 20 homes in Lake Placid because of their Trump signage, similar allegations have been made against FEMA officials in both Georgia and North Carolina. 

“Accordingly, we write to request that you investigate FEMA’s reported violations of the First Amendment by discriminating based on political affiliation and withholding of federal disaster aid following recent natural disasters,” AFL lawyer Scolinos wrote on Wednesday. “In particular, we request that you investigate FEMA employees directing personnel to ‘avoid homes advertising Trump.’”

Scolinos wrote that the actions taken by Washington and alleged similar actions in North Carolina and Georgia violate the First Amendment. 

“FEMA’s blanket refusal to provide aid to these homes, and even entire neighborhoods, based on the political speech in the yards of some but not all homes is not narrowly tailored to any compelling governmental interest,” he wrote. 

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Scolinos added that the actions of Washington and others who deprived people with Trump signs or flags constituted an illegal conspiracy to deprive Americans of aid based on their politics. 

“To ensure that federal disaster relief is being administered fairly in compliance with the law, AFL hereby requests that you exercise your statutory oversight authority and open an investigation to determine whether American citizens faced political discrimination or retaliation by FEMA in areas affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene and elsewhere,” the letter added. “The dangers inherent in the undue politicization of FEMA’s disaster relief role should be evident.”

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has said the incident in Lake Placid was an isolated incident and said that she asked the inspector general to carry out an independent investigation. The inspector general’s office told The Daily Wire it cannot comment on any potential investigation.

In the FOIA request, AFL requested communications “sent to or received by, or mentioning” Washington, and all records that mention “Trump,” “Trump supporters,” “Trump signs,” or “isolated incident.” The Daily Wire has filed a similar request with FEMA over its handling of the situation.