A senior official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reportedly been removed from his position, following a series of controversial statements that drew national attention.
Gregg Phillips, who was appointed in December to head FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, faced backlash for his history of promoting conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election. His comments, which included a claim of teleporting to a Waffle House, were highlighted in a March report by CNN.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, confirmed on Thursday that Phillips is taking leave for personal reasons. However, sources indicate that his departure was not voluntary, as new leadership within DHS became increasingly concerned about the negative attention surrounding Phillips and his interactions with other agency leaders.
Despite the controversies, Phillips had garnered support from some within FEMA for his resistance to proposed cuts and funding restrictions that could have hindered the agency’s operations. His tenure began under the leadership of then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who, along with her team, aimed to streamline FEMA's functions.
Phillips' claims of teleportation, which he described as spiritual experiences, included an incident where he stated he found himself at a Waffle House roughly 50 miles away from his original location. His remarks were met with skepticism, including from former President Donald Trump, who acknowledged the strangeness of the claims and stated he would investigate further.
Prior to his appointment at FEMA, Phillips had a history of making inflammatory statements, including violent rhetoric against political adversaries and unfounded claims about election fraud and immigration.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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