Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was asked Tuesday by reporters why he visited the Interstate 95 collapse site so sooner than he visited the train derailment site in Eastern Palestine, Ohio later. .
After the train derailment on February 3, it took Mr. Buttigieg about two weeks to get to the chemical spill site in East Palestine, but it took him about two weeks to travel to Philadelphia to see the Interstate 95 collapse site. It took only a few days to complete. On June 11, a tanker truck caught fire, leading to a partial collapse of a major interstate highway. (Related: ‘It all happened so quickly’: DCNF reporter discusses conflict with Buttigieg over Ohio train crash)
“When I did, I decided to break with the precedent — the common practice — that generally the Secretary of Transportation doesn’t go to the active response scene. In part, we are in a very new world in terms of the importance of being there to help, especially when you look at all the politicization and misinformation that the people of East Palestine have had to deal with. Make sure everyone understands what’s happening, the coordination that’s happening, the teamwork that’s happening,” Buttigieg said.
“And just as I cherish the ongoing conversations with the people I spend time with on the ground in Eastern Palestine, I cherish the opportunity to be on the ground and coordinate over the phone with all the Palestinian stakeholders. I will respond here,” Buttigieg said.
accident Occurred When a tank truck caught fire under an overpass and part of the highway collapsed onto the truck.
Buttigieg has come under fire for his handling of the East Palestinian chemical spill, the FAA’s largest domestic flight grounding since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and major supply chain delays.
The reporter confronted Buttigieg in Washington, D.C., where he had yet to visit, weeks after the train derailment in East Palestine. At the time, he said he was unable to deliver his message to local residents because he was taking “personal time”.
I asked Secretary Buttigieg about the crisis in East Palestine, but he didn’t like it, so he took a picture of me. I’m just doing my job, sir. @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/HjKNgF25FJ
— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) February 22, 2023
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