Our KOB 4 Investigates team uncovered more than half a million dollars in damage claims, paid to the man who’s supposed to be helping wildfire and flooding victims in our state.
(Full 4 Investigates story airing Thursday at 10 p.m.)
4 Investigates has obtained documents showing the FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office director received more than a half-million dollars through two payouts to him and his wife.
Jay Mitchell, a native New Mexican and former secretary of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has led FEMA’s Claims Office since 2024.
Documents show Mitchell received more than $266,000 for smoke and ash cleanup at his Angel Fire home. His wife received more than $258,000 for losses claimed by her Angel Fire real estate business.
New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation has been unsuccessfully seeking answers about the funds spent by the Claims Office.
In a November letter, senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich, along with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, asked for specifics: How many total-loss claims remain outstanding? How much funding has the Claims Office spent on administrative costs? When does the Claims Office estimate it will exhaust its funding?
Mitchell and FEMA have not responded to the letter.
When 4 Investigates asked about the November letter, a FEMA spokesperson said in an email the response is “in the review process.”
The Claims Office is more than a year behind on its annual reports. In an email, a FEMA spokesperson said that report is also “in the review process.”
When 4 Investigates requested an interview with Mitchell, an emailed response said, “He will not be available for an interview.” After pushing to speak with someone on camera, 4 Investigates stopped receiving email responses altogether.
We later attempted to speak with Mitchell after he left the Santa Fe Claims Office on Tuesday. Mitchell did not respond and had a private, armed security guard lock the door.
Hear from an anonymous whistleblower, four other anonymous sources, and a senior state official Thursday at 10 p.m. on KOB 4.
