FEMA Director Deanne Criswell confirmed that there were multiple ongoing federal investigations into instructions from a relief worker to skip homes with Trump signs, according to a letter to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) first shared with The Daily Wire.
Criswell wrote to Blackburn on Tuesday confirming that Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari and the U.S. Office of Special Council were actively investigating FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington’s written and verbal commands for workers in Lake Placid, Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” The guidance led to workers skipping at least 20 homes in the small community.
Criswell referred to the instructions as “unacceptable” and a “clear violation” of FEMA’s values.
“This employee’s conduct was reprehensible, and this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA,” she wrote. “The work we do at FEMA is not, has never been, and should never be partisan — emergencies and disasters don’t respect geographic or political boundaries.”
The letter came after Blackburn urged FEMA last month to comply with any investigation into potential discrimination over hurricane relief.
Criswell said that the FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), the U.S. Office of Special Council, and Cuffari were currently investigating aspects of the incident.
According to Criswell, OPR began an internal investigation the same day it learned of a complaint about the instructions and referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. This investigation was stopped on November 15 at the request of the Inspector General, who later said it could continue on December 3.
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A whistleblower complaint was first filed on October 26, yet Washington faced no disciplinary action until November 8, the day The Daily Wire first reported on the anti-Trump guidance.
“On November 19 I personally requested Inspector General Cuffari ‘to conduct an independent inquiry to include all Helene and Milton disasters,’” Criswell told Blackburn. That was the same day that she testified before congressional lawmakers and was pressed about the status of an Inspector General investigation.
Criswell told Blackburn that the Inspector General would be “reviewing some aspect of this matter’ through its Office of Audit and noted that the Office of Special Council investigation was ongoing.
The FEMA chief also promised to cooperate with Tennessee’s investigation into “potential discrimination against Tennesseans,” as Blackburn requested.
Other whistleblowers have since come forward to Republican lawmakers alleging similar discrimination by FEMA workers against Trump supporters in Georgia and North Carolina.
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FEMA Director Deanne Criswell confirmed that there were multiple ongoing federal investigations into instructions from a relief worker to skip homes with Trump signs, according to a letter to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) first shared with The Daily Wire.
Criswell wrote to Blackburn on Tuesday confirming that Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari and the U.S. Office of Special Council were actively investigating FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington’s written and verbal commands for workers in Lake Placid, Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” The guidance led to workers skipping at least 20 homes in the small community.
Criswell referred to the instructions as “unacceptable” and a “clear violation” of FEMA’s values.
“This employee’s conduct was reprehensible, and this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA,” she wrote. “The work we do at FEMA is not, has never been, and should never be partisan — emergencies and disasters don’t respect geographic or political boundaries.”
The letter came after Blackburn urged FEMA last month to comply with any investigation into potential discrimination over hurricane relief.
Criswell said that the FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), the U.S. Office of Special Council, and Cuffari were currently investigating aspects of the incident.
According to Criswell, OPR began an internal investigation the same day it learned of a complaint about the instructions and referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. This investigation was stopped on November 15 at the request of the Inspector General, who later said it could continue on December 3.
CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
A whistleblower complaint was first filed on October 26, yet Washington faced no disciplinary action until November 8, the day The Daily Wire first reported on the anti-Trump guidance.
“On November 19 I personally requested Inspector General Cuffari ‘to conduct an independent inquiry to include all Helene and Milton disasters,’” Criswell told Blackburn. That was the same day that she testified before congressional lawmakers and was pressed about the status of an Inspector General investigation.
Criswell told Blackburn that the Inspector General would be “reviewing some aspect of this matter’ through its Office of Audit and noted that the Office of Special Council investigation was ongoing.
The FEMA chief also promised to cooperate with Tennessee’s investigation into “potential discrimination against Tennesseans,” as Blackburn requested.
Other whistleblowers have since come forward to Republican lawmakers alleging similar discrimination by FEMA workers against Trump supporters in Georgia and North Carolina.
“}]]
