ORLANDO, Florida. – Florida has filed a lawsuit against the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and one of his former employees, accusing them of conspiring to deny relief to Donald Trump supporters at the following events. Hurricane Miltonwho criticized the state in early October.

The lawsuit names Deanne Criswell, who has led FEMA since 2021, and Marn’i Washington, the employee who allegedly sent text messages to emergency workers asking them to avoid homes with Trump signs.

Criswell called the allegations “reprehensible” and described them as an isolated incident. Washington has since been fired from the agency. In an interview with FOX News, Washington said avoiding homes displaying Trump signs was part of an agency-wide policy to avoid political conflict, and that she was following orders from superiors. She accused the agency of making her a scapegoat.

All this comes as the National Hurricane Center tracks Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean and Central America.

The Daily Wire first broke the story after obtaining alleged messages asking workers to avoid homes displaying Trump signs.

According to the lawsuit, at least 20 homes in Lake Placid were abandoned because of Trump signs or visible support for Trump.

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“Hurricane season is not over and the federal emergency response agency is embroiled in scandal and finds itself denying aid to storm victims in Florida who support President Trump. I am quickly filing a lawsuit to uncover the extent of this political discrimination and to ensure that all Americans affected by the storms are served, regardless of political affiliation,” Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement. press release.

In the lawsuit, Moody demands a jury trial. She is seeking minimal, punitive damages.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke to X shortly after the news broke and said the state of Florida would launch its own investigation into FEMA and the alleged actions.

Before the trial, Deanne called the allegations “reprehensible”.

“I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct.”

Related: How to Appeal a FEMA Storm Assistance Decision

Washington recently spoke to FOX News, denying the claims and saying she was following orders given to her.

“Why is this happening to me? I am the person who wrote down my superiors’ ratings and my rating in the (Microsoft) Teams chat was exposed by their research team,” Washington said, according to FOX News .