CLAIM: Erik Hooks, the deputy director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been arrested in connection with the agency’s response to the Maui wildfires.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. A FEMA spokesperson told The Associated Press that Hooks has not been arrested. The claim originated on a website that says it publishes “humor, parody, and satire” and has previously published similar false stories about supposed arrests of public officials.
THE FACTS: Social media users are claiming a top FEMA official has been arrested and charged with treason following the agency’s response to the devastating wildfires.
Many are quoting directly from an item posted on Real Raw News that falsely claims Hooks, who effectively serves as the agency’s chief operating officer, was arrested by the U.S. Marines at his home in Arlington, Virginia, on Saturday.
The website item goes on to say that an indictment alleges Hooks and Deanne Criswell, who serves as FEMA administrator, ordered agents in Maui to “deny fire victims food and water, to inhibit civilian relief efforts, to stop ‘by any means necessary’ displaced persons from exiting fire-ravaged Lahaina, and to dispose of bodies as ‘discriminately as possible’.”
“Update on Maui wildfires!” wrote one Facebook user in a lengthy post that repeated the website’s baseless assertions. “Sad, we cant trust our government, Maui police, FBI, Red Cross, Hawaii Army National Guard???? Do you see how media, politicians lie to you?”
But there’s no truth to the notion that Hooks has been arrested or faces treason charges, Jeremy Edwards, FEMA’s press secretary, confirmed on Thursday.
“Deputy Administrator Hooks is literally at FEMA Headquarters as we speak, and has been here all week, working with FEMA personnel and our interagency partners as we help the people of Maui recover, as well as respond to other events happening nationwide,” he wrote in an email.
Edwards included a link to a recent FEMA tweet in which Hook is pictured at a meeting with other federal officials ahead of Tropical Storm Hilary earlier this week.
What’s more, Real Raw News frequently publishes fabricated stories about made-up arrests without any supporting evidence. The website’s “About Us” page even includes a disclaimer stating it’s content is for “informational and educational and entertainment” purposes and “contains humor, parody, and satire.”
The website’s post about Hook’s supposed arrest also does not provide any credible evidence, citing only an anonymous “source in General Eric M. Smith’s office.” The site has similarly cited unnamed sources in the acting commandant’s office in prior false stories.
Real Raw News, the Marines and the Department of Defense didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
But a review of reputable news publications didn’t turn up any reports that Hooks — or any top FEMA official for that matter — had been arrested recently.
The Associated Press has debunked a range of false claims in the aftermath of the wildfires, which were the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century, with more than 100 confirmed dead.
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This is part of AP’s effort to address widely shared misinformation, including work with outside companies and organizations to add factual context to misleading content that is circulating online. Learn more about fact-checking at AP.
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