California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday went after President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), claiming a lack of support on wildfires in the Los Angeles area earlier this year.
“What I do say, is that we need to really, now — I think — call out why the president of the United States and Congress has refused to provide support to those that have been victimized by this arsonist and this devastation,” Newsom said during a press conference, referencing a recent arrest linked to the deadly Palisades Fire that struck Los Angeles in January.
“Thirty-nine billion dollars, for months and months and months, and the president of the United States has said nothing.”
In February, Newsom asked Congress to approve nearly $40 billion in aid to help the Los Angeles area recover from the fires.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice announced that a man from Florida who previously worked as an Uber driver was arrested in connection with the Palisades Fire.
According to acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli’s office, Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old from Melbourne, Fla., was charged with destruction of property by means of fire.
“While we cannot bring back what victims lost, we hope this [federal] criminal case brings some measure of justice to those affected by this horrific tragedy,” Essayli said in his statement.
The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres in January, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. At least 12 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed.
In June, Trump suggested that his ongoing feud with Newsom on immigration could affect whether he approved disaster funding for January’s wildfires.
“Speaker of the House said he’s not interested in helping the American people that were devastated, lives torn asunder, here in Los Angeles,” Newsom said Wednesday.
“Where is the accountability in that respect? Where is the spirit that defines the best of this country, to be here for fellow Americans at the time of recovery, uncertainty?”
Last month, a federal judge barred the Trump administration from conditioning disaster and security funds for states due to their immigration policies.
Newsom also said in a post on the social platform X Wednesday that the day’s “arrest of 29-year-old Florida resident Jonathan Rinderknecht marks an important step toward determining how the horrific #PalisadesFire started and bringing closure to the thousands of survivors whose lives were upended.”
“This tragedy will never be forgotten — lives were lost, families torn apart, and entire communities forever changed — and there must be accountability,” he added. “We thank @TheJusticeDept and @ATFHQ for their thorough investigation into this fire and for confirming the indisputable facts on the ground.”
The Hill has reached out to Johnson’s office and the White House for comment.
Source: The Hill
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