The House Oversight Committee on Monday highlighted whistleblower complaints that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEMA</a> discriminated against Trump supporters when responding to devastating hurricanes earlier this year. 
As the 118th Congress comes to a close, the Oversight Committee listed its “TOP OVERSIGHT HEARING MOMENTS” of the last two years on X, pointing to a story <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first broken</a> by The Daily Wire in November that detailed that a FEMA supervisor in Florida had ordered relief workers to skip homes that showed support for Trump. The Oversight Committee noted that a whistleblower told Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) that similar misconduct had occurred in Georgia. 
“In October 2024, [The Daily Wire] exposed that a FEMA employee directed workers to bypass pro-Trump homes. During a hearing on that topic, Chairman James Comer (<a href="https://x.com/RepJamesComer">@RepJamesComer</a>) revealed a brand-new whistleblower in a different state, which blew apart the FEMA Administrator’s claim that it was an isolated incident,” the committee posted on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In October 2024, <a href="https://twitter.com/dailywire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DailyWire</a> exposed that a FEMA employee directed workers to bypass pro-Trump homes. During a hearing on that topic, Chairman James Comer (<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a>) revealed a brand-new whistleblower in a different state, which blew apart the FEMA Administrator’s claim that…
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1873773803248959620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The committee was referring to an exclusive report published by The Daily Wire on November 8 that FEMA supervisor Marn&#8217;i Washington ordered relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” 
The guidance led to FEMA workers skipping some 20 homes impacted by Hurricane Milton. FEMA responded by firing Washington and sending workers back to the area to ensure that Lake Placid residents were given an opportunity to qualify for hurricane aid. 
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-chief-confirms-multiple-ongoing-federal-investigations-into-trump-instructions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> earlier this month that there were multiple federal investigations ongoing into potential political discrimination. The investigations were being conducted by FEMA’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General. 
Last month, as Criswell was questioned about the guidance from Washington, Comer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whistleblower-alleges-fema-advised-georgia-hurricane-victims-to-remove-trump-signs-comer-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that a whistleblower told his office that a FEMA supervisor told a family in Georgia to remove their Trump signs from their yards because it was not “looked kindly” on by the agency. 
“My staff made contact with a new whistleblower who provided a credible account that a FEMA contractor visited the home of an elderly disabled veteran’s family around October 10 following Hurricane Helene,” Comer said. “While there he recommended that they remove Trump campaign materials and signs from both their house and yard. He warned the family that his FEMA supervisor does not take kindly to Trump supporters and that they are seen as domestic terrorists.” 
Criswell responded to Comer’s remarks by saying that she had not heard the allegations before and asked the committee to provide her with more information on the matter. 
Whistleblowers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-ask-for-probe-into-allegations-fema-skipped-entire-neighborhoods-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later told</a> the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that “entire” neighborhoods were skipped in North Carolina if workers found “Make America Great Again,” “Drain the Swamp,’ or “Don’t Tread on Me” signs in the yards of hurricane victims.

House Oversight Committee Hears Testimony From FEMA Administrator Criswell

Oversight Committee Highlights FEMA’s Avoidance Of Trump Supporters As Investigations Continue

Discrimination

FEMA

House Oversight Committee

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Milton

James Comer

House Oversight Chairman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-comer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Comer</a> (R-KY) urged President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> to speak with the handful of GOP holdouts who oppose or have not endorsed Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) returning as speaker.
During a &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures&#8221; <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6366525597112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a>, Comer told Fox News anchor Jason Chaffetz that five Republicans will not commit to voting for Johnson, who can only afford to lose a couple of GOP votes.
&#8220;I strongly encourage Donald Trump to get on the phone with those five or six members who won&#8217;t commit to voting for Mike Johnson, because all this is going to do is delay us,&#8221; Comer said.
The chairman warned that if members cannot pick a speaker by January 6, then Congress will be unable to certify the results of the Electoral College that would make Trump the 47th president two weeks later.
&#8220;It&#8217;s going to delay the certification of President Trump&#8217;s election. It&#8217;s going to delay the start of his first 100 days in office, which is the most important time frame of his whole presidency,&#8221; Comer said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s when you get the most done historically,&#8221; he added. &#8220;So, I strongly encourage President Trump to get on the phone and try to get everyone united so we can work together as a team and make America great again.&#8221;
No other Republican has entered the speaker&#8217;s race as of Sunday afternoon, but the GOP&#8217;s margin to majority is only a few members deep and so far it appears no Democrats will cross the aisle and support Johnson.
Johnson&#8217;s handling of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-last-minute-funding-bill-to-avert-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spending</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-overcomes-final-hurdle-to-send-fisa-reauthorization-bill-to-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surveillance</a> legislation has irked some Republicans. A small number of them, including <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/massie-comes-out-against-johnson-retaining-speakers-gavel-he-does-not-have-my-vote?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)</a>, have <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/29/newt-gingrich-support-mike-johnson-speakership-00196103" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talked about</a> considering someone else for speaker.
Trump, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-hes-with-speaker-johnson-all-the-way" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly told</a> House Republicans he was with Johnson &#8220;all the way&#8221; in November, suggested to Fox News earlier this month the speaker&#8217;s chances would be tied to a stopgap bill packed with add-ons.
&#8220;If the speaker acts decisively, and tough, and gets rid of all of the traps being set by the Democrats, which will economically and, in other ways, destroy our country, he will easily remain speaker,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-johnson-will-remain-speaker-if-he-acts-decisively-and-tough-on-spending-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The House first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-elects-mike-johnson-as-speaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> Johnson to be the speaker in October 2023, ending a weeks-long standoff after then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was cast out of the role he won in 15 rounds of voting in January of that year.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a terrible challenge. &#8230; It was very difficult for Kevin McCarthy. It&#8217;s been very difficult for Mike Johnson. It would be very difficult for whomever would be elected speaker of our conference,&#8221; Comer told Chaffetz.
Comer said he does not want there to be a &#8220;repeat&#8221; of a drawn-out process, adding, &#8220;I&#8217;m strongly encouraging my colleagues to go ahead and elect Mike Johnson and let&#8217;s get started on passing President Trump&#8217;s agenda.&#8221;

Speaker Johnson Joins President-elect Trump

House Chairman Urges Trump To Get On Phone With GOP Holdouts In Speaker’s Race

Congress

Donald Trump

House Republicans

Mike Johnson

Politics

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

The House Oversight Committee will ask Martin O’Malley, Joe Biden’s head of the Social Security Administration, to testify on why he signed an agreement letting employees telework through 2029, just days before resigning his post.
“[T]he hearing will address existing agreements between federal agencies and federal employee unions that purport to prevent incoming executive branch officials appointed by President Trump from telling their own employees – and those of the American people – to show up to work,” Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky), the chairman of the committee, wrote in a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Letter-to-OMalley-122324.pdf">letter</a> to O’Malley on Monday.
“You signed the SSA agreement with [American Federation of Government Employees] AFGE on November 27, 2024—after informing the press of your intent to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC)—and just days before stepping down from your role at SSA,” the letter said, citing The Daily Wire’s exclusive reporting. The article found that instead of union and management being on opposing sides, O&#8217;Malley actually attended a November 12-15 union conference in Florida, where he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/social-security-head-drank-with-union-members-before-giving-them-telework-through-2029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drank and played guitar with union members who praised him</a>, before signing the contract and then resigning his post on November 29.
Locking in telework at levels that originated during a global pandemic seemed to be outside of the interests of even the Joe Biden administration, which has repeatedly said that federal employees should return to the office in order to provide the best service to taxpayers. Locking in telework for five years also seems odd considering the Social Security Administration just spent $120 million renovating its headquarters, which is currently 91% vacant.
“Thus, you managed the SSA workforce for only a few days under a CBA that will tie the hands of your successor at SSA for the duration of the next Administration, and beyond. Your motive for signing such an agreement is unclear, nor is it clear why the public interest is served by having a departing official of a lame duck Administration determine the work arrangements to occur at an agency for years after he is gone. Democracy is best served when an incoming, duly elected President and his appointees are empowered to actually manage the workforce they are charged with overseeing. The SSA CBA seems intended to prevent just that,” the letter continued.
The letter suggested that O’Malley may have given away government favors in order to boost his personal ambitions to head the DNC, given that unions are influential in the party. The contract may have been bad for taxpayers who expect prompt service from Social Security, but it was “extremely popular with the AFGE members—who you partied with in Florida shortly before signing it—and with other public employee unions that form a core constituency of the DNC that you are now running to chair,” it said.
The letter said nearly all Social Security employees are eligible for telework and have been spending less than half their time in the office, even as metrics such as the speed of processing disability applications have gotten worse. 
Unions could pose an impediment to Trump reforming the federal workforce, including bringing them back to the office. A Senate report found that up to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/only-6-of-feds-work-from-an-office-full-time-and-some-arent-working-at-all-audit-finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">94% of federal employees are working from home.</a> Federal office buildings have only a 12% occupancy rate, despite taxpayers spending $16 billion a year on the facilities. The working-from-home employees included a Social Security employee who was actually running a home inspection business on the clock. He had his mom send a few emails during the day from his computer, and he got away with it for three years.
“We believe your testimony will shed light on why so much of the federal workforce is currently at home, and federal agency offices are largely vacant. We also expect it will educate Members as to how federal collective bargaining law and practice has helped facilitate this situation,” Comer concluded.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-look-to-hire-up-to-1200-new-dei-bureaucrats-before-trump-takes-office">Feds Look To Hire Up To 1,200 New DEI Bureaucrats Before Trump Takes Office</a>

Then-SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley with an official of the union negotiating against him / Facebook

House Wants To Grill Biden Social Security Head On Signing 5-Year Telework Contract

Joe Biden

Labor Unions

Martin O'Malley

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) ripped into President Joe Biden for issuing a pardon to his son Hunter on Sunday night, calling the action an attempt to avoid responsibility for &#8220;blatant corruption.&#8221; 
Comer, who has been leading an investigation into the Biden family, said that the pardon was an attempt to escape accountability. Hunter was scheduled to be sentenced later this month for gun and tax evasion crimes. 
&#8220;Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities. Not only has he falsely claimed that he never met with his son’s foreign business associates and that his son did nothing wrong, but he also lied when he said he would not pardon Hunter Biden,” Comer said in a statement. 
“The charges Hunter faced were just the tip of the iceberg in the blatant corruption that President Biden and the Biden Crime Family have lied about to the American people. It’s unfortunate that, rather than come clean about their decades of wrongdoing, President Biden and his family continue to do everything they can to avoid accountability,” the Kentucky Republican added. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ISSUING A PARDON TO SON HUNTER BIDEN:
&#8220;Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities. Not only has he falsely claimed that he never met with his son’s foreign business associates and that his…
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1863387110339961024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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As part of its investigation into the Bidens, the Oversight Committee has <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/the-bidens-influence-peddling-timeline/">said</a> that the president&#8217;s family had used their influence and status to make money around the globe largely beginning at the end of his vice presidency in 2015. According to the committee, the Biden family and their associates have received over $20 million in payments from foreign entities, raising national security concerns.
One WhatsApp message revealed last year appeared to show Hunter shaking down Chinese energy executive Henry Zhao for money in the summer of 2017.
“I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight,” Hunter wrote to Zhao, according to the text.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
In post on X, the Oversight Committee said that the Biden administration has been marked by an &#8220;unprecedented&#8221; abuse of power. 
“From the lawfare against President Trump to now the pardoning of Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s unprecedented abuse of power has been a stain on the honor of the U.S. presidency,” the committee said.

Speaker Johnson Holds News Conference On College Campus Protests

‘Blatant Corruption’: Republican Leading Biden Family Investigation Slams Hunter Pardon

Hunter Biden

Pardon

The House Oversight Committee demanded Friday that FEMA respond to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whistleblower-alleges-fema-advised-georgia-hurricane-victims-to-remove-trump-signs-comer-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new allegations</a> that it has discriminated against Trump supporters when distributing emergency relief. 
In a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/FEMA-FollowUp-112224.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> first shared with The Daily Wire, Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) wrote to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell asking for her to provide more documentation on any “avoidance” policy the agency may have in place. The letter comes after Criswell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-we-learned-from-fema-chiefs-day-of-congressional-grilling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified for hours</a> on Tuesday about guidance from FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”
While Criswell has said Washington&#8217;s instructions were an “isolated” incident, Comer noted that another whistleblower had contacted his office telling them that a similar situation occurred in Georgia. 
He wrote the whistleblower told the committee that “a FEMA contractor warned a disabled veteran’s family in Georgia to remove Trump campaign materials from their home because FEMA supervisors viewed Trump supporters as domestic terrorists.”
The letter also pointed to comments from Florida Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) who said on Tuesday hearing that over 35 of his constituents reached out to him with allegations that FEMA had discriminated against them.
“The Committee is in the process of investigating these claims. If they are true, they would corroborate concerns that political discrimination extends beyond Ms. Washington,” the letter said.” Furthermore, they suggest an apparent culture, whether sanctioned or not, within FEMA to politically discriminate against disaster survivors, specifically those who support President-elect Donald Trump.”
The letter was signed by all Republicans on the Oversight Committee, in addition to Steube and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), who sat in on Criswell’s testimony. 
The committee asked Criswell to provide Disaster Survivor Assistance surveys with any reference to political affiliation, communications with references to politics among FEMA leadership in the region Washington was working, and any guidelines or policies the agency may have on &#8220;avoidance&#8221; or de-escalation practices. 
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1732313548495000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1sTcw_EsPDQ8ibqgju7nFf">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
The Republicans also asked for a briefing with Chad Hershey, Washington’s supervisor in Lake Placid, Florida, where at least 20 homes were skipped over because they had a Trump flag or sign. In addition to Hershey, the Oversight Committee said it wanted to set up a briefing with Washington’s task force. 
The committee requested the names of three FEMA workers who spoke with Washington around October 30, three days after the guidance was issued. It is unclear what the workers spoke to her about, but it was after a whistleblower complaint had been filed with the Department of Homeland Security. 
The committee asked Criswell to respond with the proper documents and information no later than December 6.

EXCLUSIVE: Comer Demands FEMA Chief Respond To New Allegations Of Political Bias

Florida

WASHINGTON—House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer revealed Tuesday that a whistleblower claimed a FEMA supervisor in Georgia directed a family to remove Trump campaign signage from their home, saying it was not &#8220;looked kindly&#8221; on by the agency. 
Comer made the statements during a hearing where lawmakers grilled FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about an agency employee who told relief workers in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” Criswell has maintained that the guidance was an isolated incident and not the result of agency policy to skip over &#8220;politically hostile” homes. 
But testimony from Comer and other lawmakers testimony casts doubt on Criswell&#8217;s comments. 
“My staff made contact with a new whistleblower who provided a credible account that a FEMA contractor visited the home of an elderly disabled veteran’s family around October 10 following Hurricane Helene,” Comer said after the committee came back from recess. “While there he recommended that they remove Trump campaign materials and signs from both their house and yard. He warned the family that his FEMA supervisor does not take kindly to Trump supporters and that they are seen as domestic terrorists.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨BREAKING- Chairman Comer reveals a NEW whistleblower in a different state claims that FEMA purposely avoided the homes ofTrump supporters when providing disaster relief.
&#8220;During the recess for votes, my staff made contact with a new whistleblower who provided a credible… <a href="https://t.co/HV03qRpXLG">pic.twitter.com/HV03qRpXLG</a>
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1859003562216374747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Comer said that the whistleblower claimed FEMA never returned to the family’s home even after they removed their Trump gear. 
“The elderly homeowners were so frightened by this, and afraid they would not recover their loss, that they removed all Trump materials and signs,” the Kentucky Republican said. 
The Oversight Committee called Criswell to testify after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whistleblowers told The Daily Wire</a> that at least 20 homes in Lake Placid were skipped during relief operations after Hurricane Milton because they had Trump flags or signs. 
Criswell testified for over six hours on Tuesday, facing questions about the guidance. She said she was “heartbroken” by the guidance and that the investigation into the incident was ongoing. 
<div id="attachment_831517" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-831517" class="size-full wp-image-831517" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2185627161.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: Administrator of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deanne Criswell testifies during a House Oversight Committee Hearing at the Rayburn House Office Building on November 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. Criswell testifies during a hearing on oversight of FEMA and their response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene. " width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2185627161.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2185627161-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2185627161-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2185627161-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images.</div>
Her testimony contrasted with statements from Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) who said during the hearing that over 35 of his constituents reached out to him with allegations that FEMA had discriminated against them. Steube said his office had information on “specific instances, factual instances, where they were either overlooked or specifically discriminated against because of their political affiliation.”
Criswell confirmed during the hearing that she had asked the Inspector General to launch an independent investigation into the guidance, to supplement FEMA&#8217;s ongoing internal investigation.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) told The Daily Wire that she was not happy with Criswell&#8217;s answers.
“You have blatant discrimination going on,” McClain said. “She fired the person who sent out the text, fantastic, but what about all of the layers in between who knew that it was going on.”
She said that Criswell was “conveniently” ignorant of details surrounding who was managing Washington and who she answered to. 
“There seems to be a lot of unanswered questions with the exception of we fired the person who did it, &#8221; McClain said. “but what enabled, what empowered that person to do that?”
Before testifying before the Oversight Committee, Criswell faced questions from lawmakers on the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Whistleblower Alleges FEMA Advised Georgia Hurricane Victims To Remove Trump Signs, Comer Says

Georgia

fema-avoid-trump (1)

FEMA ON TRIAL: Congress Probes FEMA Head Over Discrimination Against Trump Supporters

House Oversight Committee Chair <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-comer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Comer</a> (R-KY) revealed Monday that FEMA employees told him that the agency has a “pattern” of discriminating against conservatives, contradicting claims from FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
Comer told Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro that he had spoken with FEMA employees who appeared to confirm fired supervisor Marn’i Washington’s claims that her instructions for workers in Florida to “avoid homes advertising Trump” was in accordance with agency policy. The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into FEMA after whistleblowers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Daily Wire</a> that at least 20 homes in Lake Placid with Trump signs or flags were skipped during Hurricane Milton relief operations.
“We fear that this isn’t an isolated incident. We believe this is a pattern,” Comer said in an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2087-member-exclusive">interview</a> released on “The Ben Shapiro Show” on Monday. “We&#8217;ve spoken with other employees who haven’t yet come forward, but have provided some information that this is the way FEMA operates, that they do discriminate against Republicans, against conservatives, against people in more prominent neighborhoods.”
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EXCLUSIVE: <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a> previews <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> hearing with FEMA administrator following <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> reporting on FEMA&#8217;s discrimination against Trump supporters.
Comer reveals: &#8220;We believe this a pattern. We&#8217;ve spoken with other employees&#8230; This is the way FEMA operates.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/2uPiOPmHom">pic.twitter.com/2uPiOPmHom</a>
— The Ben Shapiro Show (@BenShapiroShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenShapiroShow/status/1858585669959827816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Comer’s comments come a day before Criswell will appear before the Oversight Committee. Before meeting with the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, Criswell will testify before the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Criswell has said that Washington’s guidance was an “isolated” incident and not approved by the agency. 
“The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident,” she said, announcing that Washington had been fired. 
Comer said the committee plans to interview Washington, who has claimed that FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. 
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” she told Roland Martin last week. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
Comer told Shapiro that the guidance was endemic to the broader takeover of federal agencies by leftist activists. 
“I think every government agency, whether it’s FEMA, whether it’s the EPA, whether it&#8217;s the FBI, whether it&#8217;s the Securities and Exchange Commission,” Comer said. “I think every agency in the federal government is populated with left-wing activists that have risen to the top.”

Comer Has Evidence Other FEMA Workers Were Told To Skip Trump Homes: ‘This Is A Pattern’

A second House committee announced Tuesday that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fema" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEMA</a> Director Deanne Criswell would be questioned on guidance issued from a now-fired supervisor for relief workers in Florida to “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoid homes advertising Trump</a>.”
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure <a href="https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=407866" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Criswell would be grilled next Tuesday on guidance from FEMA employee Marn’i Washington for workers in Lake Placid to skip homes with Trump flags or signs. The guidance was first reported on by The Daily Wire last week, prompting a flurry of investigations at the federal and state level.
The probe from the Transportation Committee will be led by members of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. The subcommittee said Tuesday that it expanded its probe of “troubling reports that emergency aid was not reaching disaster victims” after recent hurricanes into the guidance advising workers to skip Trump homes.
“More recently, additional reports have surfaced that some FEMA officials may have de-prioritized assisting homes displaying Trump for President campaign signs. Subcommittee Members will have the opportunity to raise these issues and others at next week’s hearing,” the committee said in a statement.
Criswell’s appearance before the subcommittee will come before she goes to the House Oversight Committee to testify.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) indicated that the committee would ask Criswell about Washington’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuesday interview</a> with Roland Martin, where she claimed FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. She said that FEMA’s suggestion that she made an independent decision to avoid certain homes is a mischaracterization, stating that it is agency policy.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
“Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know,” Washington added. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oversight-committee-to-grill-fema-chief-over-directive-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-desantis-warns-biden-to-preserve-all-evidence-on-fema-scandal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">state investigations</a> have been launched into FEMA to probe its policies for providing aid. FEMA has not responded to allegations from Washington, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Donald Trump For President Merchandise

FEMA Chief To Face Two House Grillings In One Day

The House Oversight Committee announced Tuesday that FEMA Commissioner Deanne Criswell will testify next week on guidance from a government employee who ordered relief workers in Florida to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skip homes</a> displaying signs or flags supporting President-elect Donald Trump. 
Lawmakers will question Criswell about guidance, first reported by The Daily Wire, from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since-fired</a> FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington for relief workers in Lake Placid to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to Criswell last week requesting that she appear before the committee to discuss the guidance and its handling of recent hurricanes. 
“FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be testifying before our committee next Tuesday. We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and more,” the House Oversight Committee posted on X. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 BREAKING: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be testifying before our committee next Tuesday. We look forward to hearing what she has to say about these allegations and more. <a href="https://t.co/mMv6yMzbf2">https://t.co/mMv6yMzbf2</a>
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1856406660845015346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Comer indicated that the committee would ask Criswell about Washington’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fired-fema-employee-speaks-out-says-it-was-not-isolated-incident-colossal-event-of-avoidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tuesday interview</a> with Roland Martin, where she claimed FEMA has a widespread policy of avoiding “politically hostile” homes. She said that FEMA’s suggestion that she made an independent decision to avoid certain homes is a mischaracterization, stating that it is agency policy.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated,” Washington said. “This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
“Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know,” Washington added. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs">READ MORE: FEMA Official Ordered Relief Workers To Skip Houses With Trump Signs</a>
Multiple government employees from the relief team told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. The employees said this guidance was given both verbally, as well as in a group chat used by the relief team and viewed by The Daily Wire. 
Comer wrote Criswell on Saturday demanding that she appear for a hearing in Washington, D.C., on November 19 at 2:00 p.m. 
“This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” Comer wrote. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oversight-committee-to-grill-fema-chief-over-directive-to-skip-trump-homes">Federal</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-desantis-warns-biden-to-preserve-all-evidence-on-fema-scandal">state investigations</a> have been launched into FEMA to probe its policies for providing aid. FEMA has not responded to allegations from Washington, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

White House Holds Press Briefing

FEMA Chief To Testify Before Lawmakers On Instruction To Skip Trump Supporters’ Homes

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability announced Saturday it would be holding a hearing to investigate FEMA after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-fema-official-ordered-relief-workers-to-skip-houses-with-trump-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire reported</a> that a federal employee ordered relief workers in Florida to skip the homes of people with signs or flags supporting Donald Trump.
Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell asking that she show up to testify before lawmakers on November 19. The letter comes after whistleblowers told The Daily Wire that they were instructed by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-fema-fires-official-who-told-hurricane-relief-workers-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-fired</a> FEMA supervisor Marn’i Washington to “avoid homes advertising Trump” when offering relief in Lake Placid, Florida.
“This hearing will address FEMA’s response to recent major natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and permit members to investigate recent reports that a FEMA official instructed relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying campaign signs for President Trump,” Comer wrote in a letter to Criswell.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨BREAKING🚨
I’m calling on FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to appear &amp; testify before the House Oversight Committee at a hearing on November 19.
FEMA has a responsibility to all Americans &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> is committed to ensuring FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission. <a href="https://t.co/5HbWhHsgOI">pic.twitter.com/5HbWhHsgOI</a>
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer/status/1855367756276740310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“In the wake of the recent major disasters that impacted Americans of all political persuasions, it is critical that FEMA adheres to its disaster relief mission,” Comer added.
Multiple government employees from the relief team told The Daily Wire that at least 20 homes were skipped because of the guidance. The employees said this guidance was given both verbally, as well as in a group chat used by the relief team.
Criswell announced on Saturday that Washington had been fired.
“More than 22,000 FEMA employees every day adhere to FEMA’s core values and are dedicated to helping people before, during and after disasters, often sacrificing time with their own families to help disaster survivors. Recently, one FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” she said in a statement. “This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation. This was reprehensible.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Criswell said that the incident had been referred to a special counsel for investigation.
“We take our mission to help everyone before, during and after disasters seriously. This employee has been terminated and we have referred the matter to the Office of Special Counsel. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,” she said.
Numerous lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-senator-demands-mayorkas-answer-over-fema-employee-guidance-to-skip-trump-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have announced</a> inquiries into the guidance, including Republican Senators Katie Britt (AL) and Josh Hawley (MO).

Oversight Committee To Grill FEMA Chief Over Directive To Skip Trump Homes

Biden Administration

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republicans</a> announced on Wednesday an investigation into how the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a> handled President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> calling former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s supporters <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-declares-trump-supporters-are-garbage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;garbage&#8221;</a> during remarks to a Latino voting group in response to a comedian&#8217;s joke about Puerto Rico being an <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9jj2g75q4o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;island of garbage&#8221;</a> at Trump&#8217;s Madison Square Garden campaign rally over the weekend.
In a <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ES-and-JC-letter-to-Siskel-103024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to White House Counsel Edward Siskel, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said the White House may have violated federal law by releasing a &#8220;false transcript&#8221; of Biden&#8217;s remarks while seeking to boost the campaign of Trump&#8217;s 2024 rival in the White House race, Vice President Kamala Harris.
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🚨BREAKING: Biden-Harris White House may have violated the law by altering President Biden’s “garbage” remarks in official transcript.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (<a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepStefanik</a>) and Oversight Chairman James Comer (<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJamesComer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepJamesComer</a>) are raising concerns… <a href="https://t.co/52z6J7EO7q">pic.twitter.com/52z6J7EO7q</a>
&mdash; Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1851727058251948288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Americans were rightfully insulted when President Biden, seeking to boost Ms. Harris’s presidential campaign, referred to an enormous swath of the country as ‘floating &#8230; garbage.&#8217; President Biden’s vindictive words were unsurprising, given his previous statements regarding people who choose not to vote for his preferred candidate. Unsurprising too were the White House’s actions after he said them. Instead of apologizing or clarifying President Biden’s words, the White House instead sought to change them (despite them being recorded on video) by releasing a false transcript of his remarks. The move is not only craven, but it also appears to be in violation of federal law, including the Presidential Records Act of 1978,&#8221; they wrote.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;White House staff cannot rewrite the words of the President of the United States to be more politically on message,&#8221; Stefanik and Comer added. &#8220;Though President Biden’s relevance continues to diminish, his words continue to matter, even as they become increasingly divisive and erratic. We write to demand the White House retain and preserve all documents and internal communications regarding President Biden’s statement and the release of the inaccurate transcript. We also demand that the White House issue a corrected transcript with the accurate words.&#8221;
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-declares-trump-supporters-are-garbage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, Biden said on Tuesday: &#8220;The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.&#8221; There is video footage of his remarks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WATCH: President Joe Biden: &quot;The only garbage I see floating out there is [Trump] supporters.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/9teSUOytqC">pic.twitter.com/9teSUOytqC</a>
&mdash; Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1851421311785959703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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However, the White House released a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/10/29/remarks-by-president-biden-on-a-campaign-call/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transcript</a> that contained a different quote: &#8220;The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter’s — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.&#8221;
Journalist Michael Shellenberger <a href="https://x.com/shellenberger/status/1851589406706061373" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to the White House transcript, posting on X: &#8220;The Presidential Records Act prohibits altering official transcripts, which is what the White House did. And the alteration makes no sense. The White House is now claiming Biden was referring to the racism of Trump&#8217;s supporters, but the transcript refers to &#8216;his supporter&#8217;s.'&#8221;
Biden <a href="https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1851436643498037614" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> in a post to X: &#8220;Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.&#8221; And Harris <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-defends-biden-after-garbage-insult-he-clarified-his-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters that she thought Biden &#8220;clarified his comments&#8221; and the VP said she &#8220;strongly&#8221; disagreed &#8220;with any criticism&#8221; of people based on their vote.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-gets-in-garbage-truck-to-address-bidens-garbage-insult" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> by jumping into a garbage truck in the battleground state of Wisconsin and telling reporters that Biden&#8217;s comment was a &#8220;disgrace.&#8221;

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