Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office launched an investigation into the current Federal Emergency Management Agency.
After tornadoes and hurricanes struck parts of Florida, there were reports that FEMA workers were allegedly directed not to go to any homes that had a sign for President-elect Donald Trump, according to Moody’s office.
Moody alleged that FEMA officials conspired to discriminate against Florida hurricane victims who support Trump. On Thursday, the attorney general said she’s taking legal action against “current and former FEMA officials.”
The legal complaint cited whistleblowers’ reports that at least 20 homes with Trump signs in Lake Placid were skipped.
The lawsuit names former FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell as defendants.
Moody is seeking punitive damages against both in their individual capacities.
“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 make sure all Americans who fall victim to devastating storms are served, regardless of their political affiliation,” Moody wrote in a news release.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder also weighed in about storm victims in his county.
“It appears that in some places that were hit by natural disasters, homes that had Donald Trump paraphernalia, signs, whatever were passed over and not given the assistance they really deserved,” Snyder said.
Snyder alleges there were around 600 homes in Martin County that were damaged by tornadoes that spun from Hurricane Milton’s outer bands. Snyder advises if anyone feels they may have been passed over because of political signs, they should contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, which can then get them in touch with the attorney general’s office.
“You can tell by the election results, this county voted heavily for Donald Trump. I would suspect that there will be houses out there that were damaged and may have had a yard sign for President Trump, and so those people have to be particularly alert that they did not get passed over,” Snyder said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned the behavior, saying, “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 take any action necessary to investigate and ensure those who engaged in this behavior are held accountable.”
A FEMA worker was fired after she directed workers helping hurricane survivors not to go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump, the agency’s leader said in a statement Saturday.
The agency did not identify the employee, nor did it say where it happened.