The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the director of FEMA and a recently dismissed FEMA employee following allegations that the employee directed a disaster relief team to avoid homes displaying support for President-elect Trump after Hurricane Milton.
Ashley Moody, Florida’s Republican attorney general, claims that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell “approved” of the alleged bias, coordinating with the dismissed employee, Marn’i Washington, to withhold aid from Trump supporters.
In the complaint, Moody suggests that Washington and senior FEMA officials conspired to infringe upon the civil rights of Florida residents, citing that further details will likely emerge in the coming weeks. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Fort Pierce, seeks both an official declaration of civil rights violations and unspecified damages against the two FEMA officials.
Governor DeSantis calls alleged political prejudice in disaster aid unacceptable
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called this alleged discrimination “unacceptable” and emphasized that, especially following a hurricane, Florida citizens should not face federal prejudice based on political affiliation. He also announced his support for the attorney general’s lawsuit and stated that he has directed state agencies to conduct further investigations and hold those responsible accountable.
A FEMA spokesperson declined to make any statements, and attempts to contact Washington were unsuccessful. However, Criswell confirmed Washington’s termination over the weekend and denounced the incident as a severe violation of FEMA’s guiding values, adding that the situation was “reprehensible.”
Washington, in an interview with journalist Roland S. Martin, defended her actions, claiming that FEMA was using her as a scapegoat. She explained that in previous situations with hostile encounters, teams were commonly instructed to avoid specific streets, suggesting this was the motivation behind her team’s approach.
“There was a documented trend in the community, and unfortunately, it coincided with homes that had Trump signs,” Washington explained, asserting that the avoidance policy was not politically motivated but based on safety concerns.
“This is a situation of proactive avoidance rather than isolation,” she added, noting that FEMA emphasizes avoiding conflicts before attempting de-escalation. U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks, a Clinton appointee, has been assigned to oversee the case.
