A former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee is facing potential disciplinary action after a federal investigation determined she directed relief workers to withhold aid from hurricane survivors whose homes displayed yard signs supporting former President Donald Trump, writes The Associated Press. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) filed a complaint on Tuesday with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, alleging that her actions violated the Hatch Act, a law that restricts partisan political activity among federal employees.
The former FEMA official, Marn’i Washington, was accused of using her authority to influence the distribution of federal aid based on political affiliation. Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger stated in an email that “a federal employee clearly violates the Hatch Act by engaging in explicit partisan political bias or activity when on the job.” If found guilty, Washington could face penalties ranging from a civil fine to a temporary ban on federal employment.
Washington, who was terminated from FEMA in November, has denied the allegations. In an interview with NewsNation, she claimed she was “framed” and insisted that her actions did not violate the Hatch Act. She further argued that her team had encountered hostility at homes displaying Trump signs and that she was simply following safety protocols to protect relief workers. Attempts to reach Washington for further comment have been unsuccessful. Phone numbers listed for her were disconnected, and an email inquiry bounced back. It is unclear whether she has obtained legal representation.
The controversy surrounding FEMA’s alleged partisan discrimination in Florida underscored both the politicization of federal disaster relief efforts and the broader concerns the government’s targeting of conservatives.
The revelation, while alarming, was not entirely surprising given the growing concerns over bias in federal institutions. The incident has sparked a political firestorm, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announcing an independent investigation into FEMA’s practices, decrying the alleged discrimination as an example of “government weaponization.”
Meanwhile, Rep. James Comer and the House Oversight Committee have demanded greater accountability, questioning why the official was not immediately dismissed. FEMA, for its part, insists this was an isolated incident and has committed to reaching out to affected homeowners. President Biden responded to the controversy by defending FEMA’s overall relief efforts and dismissed concerns as “disinformation and conspiracy theories.”
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Obviously since the Conservative southeast was never helped, I’m of the belief orders came from biden and kamel.