Pressure increases on FEMA claims office director to resign
New Mexico Governor, Senators and Congresswoman have called for Jay Mitchell’s immediate resignation.
Jay Mitchell, director of the FEMA field office managing claims stemming from the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history, is in the hot seat.Sens. Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich, along with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, issued a statement Tuesday calling for Mitchell’s resignation for what they say is mismanagement of the office and complaints from people saying their claims haven’t been paid for four years since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire.”Our offices have repeatedly urged the Claims Office to prioritize total loss and burn scar claims, yet we continue to hear from constituents who are facing unnecessary delays and roadblocks,” the statement reads, in part. “As such, we are calling on Director Mitchell to resign and for FEMA to take immediate steps to restore trust, accountability, and communication. … There must be an independent review of the Claims Office’s administrative management of the funding.”Coinciding with complaints about unpaid restitution from FEMA, Mitchell, a former Director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has been accused, along with his wife, of accepting FEMA compensation for damage to their home and losses to their business, both in Angel Fire, which is 50 miles away from where the fire was.In July 2024, they allegedly received $266,000 for smoke and ash cleaning, and a month later, for allegedly getting $250,000 for business losses.New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s communications director Michael Coleman released the following statement on Wednesday:”Governor Lujan Grisham believes Mr. Mitchell should resign immediately. If he doesn’t, the governor asks that the federal government remove from his position without hesitation and without pay then open an investigation into this matter.”Coinciding with complaints about unpaid restitution from FEMA, Mitchell, a former Director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has been accused, along with his wife, of accepting FEMA compensation for damage to their home and losses to their business, both in Angel Fire, which is 50 miles away from where the fire was.In July 2024, they allegedly received $266,000 for smoke and ash cleaning, and a month later, for allegedly getting $250,000 for business losses.
Jay Mitchell, director of the FEMA field office managing claims stemming from the largest wildfire in New Mexico’s history, is in the hot seat.
Sens. Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich, along with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, issued a statement Tuesday calling for Mitchell’s resignation for what they say is mismanagement of the office and complaints from people saying their claims haven’t been paid for four years since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire.
“Our offices have repeatedly urged the Claims Office to prioritize total loss and burn scar claims, yet we continue to hear from constituents who are facing unnecessary delays and roadblocks,” the statement reads, in part. “As such, we are calling on Director Mitchell to resign and for FEMA to take immediate steps to restore trust, accountability, and communication. … There must be an independent review of the Claims Office’s administrative management of the funding.”
Coinciding with complaints about unpaid restitution from FEMA, Mitchell, a former Director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has been accused, along with his wife, of accepting FEMA compensation for damage to their home and losses to their business, both in Angel Fire, which is 50 miles away from where the fire was.
In July 2024, they allegedly received $266,000 for smoke and ash cleaning, and a month later, for allegedly getting $250,000 for business losses.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s communications director Michael Coleman released the following statement on Wednesday:
“Governor Lujan Grisham believes Mr. Mitchell should resign immediately. If he doesn’t, the governor asks that the federal government remove from his position without hesitation and without pay then open an investigation into this matter.”
Coinciding with complaints about unpaid restitution from FEMA, Mitchell, a former Director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has been accused, along with his wife, of accepting FEMA compensation for damage to their home and losses to their business, both in Angel Fire, which is 50 miles away from where the fire was.
In July 2024, they allegedly received $266,000 for smoke and ash cleaning, and a month later, for allegedly getting $250,000 for business losses.
