Kamala Harris and allies top Trump and Republicans with $1bn in donations – as it happened
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In an interview earlier today with CNN, Alejandro Mayorkas was asked to respond to JD Vance's criticism of his response to Hurricane Helene.
The homeland security secretary was specifically asked for his thoughts on the Ohio senator's comment that Mayorkas was in Los Angeles for an award ceremony as the storm tore through the south-east. Here's Mayorkas's reply:
We don't listen to or pay attention to such unproductive and, quite frankly, counterproductive words. We're focused on mission. The state and local leaders in the impacted states have praised the federal response. We work in partnership with our state and local officials. We have delivered more than $280m in assistance directly to individuals impacted by Helene. And by the way, in Los Angeles, I was recognizing outstanding work of the personnel of the Department of Homeland Security. And surely others should support and recognize that tremendous work as well.
Shortly after Helene made landfall in the U.S. on Sept. 26, Joe Biden was at his house in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Vice President Kamala Harris was flying between ritzy California fundraisers, hobnobbing with celebrities. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was in Los Angeles, presiding over an awards ceremony. Before the storm, Ms. Harris had blown off her disaster-response briefings, which were a staple of the Trump administration's disaster-response planning. The lack of prioritization had real-world ramifications.
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