WASHINGTON -- United States Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery Chairman Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator R. David Paulison seeking an explanation for a recent FEMA press conference during which FEMA employees posed as reporters.

"It has come to my attention that a member of your staff, Vice Admiral Harvey E. Johnson, this week held a press conference on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response to the wildfires engulfing southern California," Sen. Landrieu wrote. "I am disappointed to learn that Adm. Johnson misled the press and the public by taking questions from his own staff pretending to be reporters and that the agency did not disclose this misrepresentation."

Sen. Landrieu requested Administrator Paulison to provide an explanation on how the press conference was permitted to occur and what actions are being taken to hold those involved accountable.

"I hope that FEMA image-building is not a substitute for the necessary reforms to ensure that the agency's response to this and future disasters is comprehensive, swift and effective," Sen. Landrieu wrote.

The full text of Sen. Landrieu's letter is available here.