Florida sues FEMA after hurricane Milton relief workers allegedly skipped Trump supporters' homes
ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida has filed a lawsuit against the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and one of its former employees, accusing them of conspiring to deny relief to Donald Trump supporters in the wake of Hurricane Milton, which slammed the state in early October.
The lawsuit names Deanne Criswell, who has led FEMA since 2021, and Marn'i Washington, the employee who allegedly sent text messages to relief workers instructing them to avoid homes with Trump signs.
Criswell called the allegations "reprehensible" and described it as an isolated incident. Washington has since been fired from the agency. In an interview with FOX News, Washington said avoiding homes with Trump signs was part of an agency-wide policy to avoid political conflict, and that she was following orders from higher-ups. She accused the agency of scapegoating her.
It all comes as the National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean and Central America.
Hurricane season is not over, and the federal agency in charge of emergency response is embroiled in scandal – withholding aid from storm victims in Florida who support @realDonaldTrump.
I am taking swift legal action to find out how far FEMA’s political discrimination reaches… pic.twitter.com/D7fr0gXlNm— AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) November 14, 2024
The Daily Wire first broke the story after obtaining alleged messages that instructed workers to avoid homes with Trump signs.
According to the lawsuit, at least 20 homes in Lake Placid were skipped due to Trump signs or visible Trump support.
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"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. I am taking swift legal action to find out how far this political discrimination reaches and to ensure all Americans affected by storms are served, regardless of their political affiliation," Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement.
In the lawsuit, Moody is demanding a jury trial. She is seeking nominal and punitive damages.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took to X shortly after news broke and said the state of Florida would launch its own investigation into FEMA and the alleged actions.
It’s unacceptable for the federal government to discriminate against Floridians who voted for Trump, and especially egregious in the aftermath of a hurricane. I’m supportive of this legal action by the Attorney General’s Office, and I have instructed state agencies to likewise… https://t.co/yyhskNAuIi
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 14, 2024
Prior to the lawsuit, Deanne described the allegations as "reprehensible."
"I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will no be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct."
This was reprehensible. I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct.
— Deanne Criswell (@FEMA_Deanne) November 9, 2024
Related: How to appeal a decision by FEMA for storm assistance
Washington spoke with FOX News recently, denying the claims, and claiming that she was following orders given to her.
"Why is this coming down on me? I am the person that jotted down the notes from my superiors and my notation in [Microsoft] Teams chat was exposed from their search capacity team," Washington said, according to FOX News.
