FACT CHECK: No, Navy JAG Did Not Execute FEMA Director Deanne Criswell
A post shared on Facebook claims the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps purportedly executed Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Deanne Criswell.
Verdict: False
The claim is false and originally stems from a Dec. 9 article published on the satire site, “Real Raw News.” A spokesperson for Navy JAG denied the claim’s validity to Check Your Fact via email.
Fact Check:
FEMA recently extended its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program for North Carolina residents who were impacted by Hurricane Helene, according to local outlet WBTV. The program will allow residents to stay in hotels for free through Jan. 11, 2025, the outlet reported.
The Facebook post claims Navy JAG purportedly executed Criswell without holding a military tribunal. According to the same post, the move could set a future precedent for how Navy JAG deals with other “Deep Staters whose guilt is proven beyond ‘all doubt’ in advance of their arrest.”
The claim is false and originally stems from a Dec. 9 article published on the satire site “Real Raw News.” A “Disclaimer” included on the site’s “About Us” page indicates its content is not meant to be taken literally. “Information on this website is for informational and educational and entertainment purposes. This website contains humor, parody, and satire. We have included this disclaimer for our protection, on the advice [of] legal counsel,” the disclaimer reads.
The Dec. 9 article is a follow-up piece to a Nov. 19 article from “Real Raw News” that claimed Criswell had allegedly been beaten by guards at Guantanamo Bay after they discovered she was using an iPhone 14 to communicate with FEMA’s central office in Washington, D.C. Check Your Fact previously debunked the claim.
The Nov. 19 piece followed Real Raw News’ original claim that Criswell had purportedly been arrested on charges of sedition and conspiracy following a “yearslong effort” by military “White Hats” published on Sept. 14.
Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find the claim referenced on FEMA’s website or its verified social media accounts. Navy JAG also does not appear to have publicly commented on the claim. (RELATED: No, Poll Didn’t Show 64% Of Americans Support Hunter Biden’s Pardon)
Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim, either.
Finally, Patricia Babb, a spokesperson for Navy JAG, denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.
“This is not true,” Babb said of the claim.
Check Your Fact has also contacted FEMA for comment.