EXCLUSIVE: Comer Demands FEMA Chief Respond To New Allegations Of Political Bias

The House Oversight Committee demanded Friday that FEMA respond to new allegations that it has discriminated against Trump supporters when distributing emergency relief. 

In a letter first shared with The Daily Wire, Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) wrote to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell asking for her to provide more documentation on any “avoidance” policy the agency may have in place. The letter comes after Criswell testified for hours on Tuesday about guidance from FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”

While Criswell has said Washington’s instructions were an “isolated” incident, Comer noted that another whistleblower had contacted his office telling them that a similar situation occurred in Georgia. 

He wrote the whistleblower told the committee that “a FEMA contractor warned a disabled veteran’s family in Georgia to remove Trump campaign materials from their home because FEMA supervisors viewed Trump supporters as domestic terrorists.”

The letter also pointed to comments from Florida Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) who said on Tuesday hearing that over 35 of his constituents reached out to him with allegations that FEMA had discriminated against them.

“The Committee is in the process of investigating these claims. If they are true, they would corroborate concerns that political discrimination extends beyond Ms. Washington,” the letter said.” Furthermore, they suggest an apparent culture, whether sanctioned or not, within FEMA to politically discriminate against disaster survivors, specifically those who support President-elect Donald Trump.”

The letter was signed by all Republicans on the Oversight Committee, in addition to Steube and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), who sat in on Criswell’s testimony. 

The committee asked Criswell to provide Disaster Survivor Assistance surveys with any reference to political affiliation, communications with references to politics among FEMA leadership in the region Washington was working, and any guidelines or policies the agency may have on “avoidance” or de-escalation practices. 

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The Republicans also asked for a briefing with Chad Hershey, Washington’s supervisor in Lake Placid, Florida, where at least 20 homes were skipped over because they had a Trump flag or sign. In addition to Hershey, the Oversight Committee said it wanted to set up a briefing with Washington’s task force. 

The committee requested the names of three FEMA workers who spoke with Washington around October 30, three days after the guidance was issued. It is unclear what the workers spoke to her about, but it was after a whistleblower complaint had been filed with the Department of Homeland Security. 

The committee asked Criswell to respond with the proper documents and information no later than December 6.