Florida is suing FEMA for allegedly discriminating against supporters of President-elect Donald Trump after a Daily Wire report revealed a supervisor directed relief workers in the Sunshine State to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
The suit, from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, alleges that FEMA Director Deanne Criswell and now-fired supervisor Marn’i Washington conspired against the civil rights of Trump supporters in Lake Placid, Florida. The suit comes after whistleblowers told The Daily Wire they were directed to bypass the homes of people with Trump flags or yard signs when canvassing homes in Lake Placid to see if they qualified for hurricane assistance after Hurricane Milton.
“While the facts will continue to come out over the weeks and months, it is already clear that Defendant Washington conspired with senior FEMA officials, as well as those carrying out her orders, to violate the civil rights of Florida citizens,” the suit says.
The suit, which cites reporting from The Daily Wire, accuses both Criswell and Washington of illegally depriving Trump supporters of federal aid. Moody filed the suit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Pierce Division.
“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,” Moody said in a statement. “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.”
The suit also points to an interview Washington gave to Roland Martin, where she said that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. Criswell has claimed the guidance was an “isolated incident” and not in accordance with FEMA policy.
“Defendant Washington says that similar conduct occurred in North Carolina and throughout areas affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” the suit said. “And she represents that senior FEMA officials claiming not to know that the agency was discriminating against Trump supporters are promoting a ‘lie.’”
Moody asked FEMA to award damages to the defendants and for the court to declare that the agency had violated the civil rights of Floridians.
FEMA told The Daily Wire that it does not comment on pending litigation, and pointed to a statement from Criswell condemning the guidance to skip Trump homes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that he backed the lawsuit and has announced that the state’s Division of Emergency Management is also investigating the incident.
“It’s unacceptable for the federal government to discriminate against Floridians who voted for Trump, and especially egregious in the aftermath of a hurricane,” he said, adding that he has “instructed state agencies to likewise take any action necessary to investigate and ensure those who engaged in this behavior are held accountable.”
Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
