On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom attempted to deflect blame for the state’s water management amid the wildfires, claiming that the state’s reservoirs were “completely full” when the fires began—despite the fact that a county-operated reservoir had been drained at the time.

Newsom made this surprising statement in response to criticism from President-elect Donald Trump regarding the state’s water management during the wildfires. “The reservoirs are completely full—the state reservoirs here in Southern California. That mis- and disinformation I don’t think advantages or aids any of us,” Newsom told NBC News during a pre-recorded interview on “Meet the Press.”

NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff challenged Newsom, pointing out that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, operated by Los Angeles County, was completely empty, prompting an investigation into the issue.

“That’s exactly what triggered my desire to get the investigation to understand what was happening with that local reservoir,” Newsom said. “That was not a state system reservoir, which the president-elect was referring to as it relates to the delta smelt … which is inexcusable because it’s inaccurate,” the governor continued, seemingly missing the point that water pressure was a major issue when the fires erupted last week.

“Also, incomprehensible to anyone that understands water policy in the state,” Newsom added.

Last week, President-elect Trump voiced his outrage over Newsom’s management of California, accusing the governor of preventing “millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snowmelt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning.”

Trump further claimed that Newsom blocked the release of this water in order to protect the delta smelt fish, a position that Newsom and local officials have denied, asserting that the fish issue was unrelated to the water management problems during the wildfires.

On Friday, Newsom sent a letter to both the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Los Angeles County Public Works, announcing an independent investigation into how the Santa Ynez Reservoir went dry. The reservoir had been offline since February of the previous year for repairs to leaks and its cover, and could store up to 117 million gallons of water.

As the wildfires raged, first responders were frustrated by low water pressure, as demand for water to fight the flames skyrocketed.

More than 10 years ago, California voters approved Proposition One, which aimed to build new reservoirs. Yet, a decade later, none of these projects have been completed.

Amid the political turbulence surrounding the wildfires, Newsom has frequently shifted some of the blame to local officials for the lack of preparation and for their response to the fires that devastated Los Angeles County.

During his NBC interview, Newsom invited Trump to visit California and witness the damage firsthand, a move that Vice President-elect JD Vance stated the incoming president is eager to do.

“I called for him to come out, take a look for himself,” Newsom said, referencing a letter he sent to Trump last week. “We want to do it in the spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist.”

Trump and Newsom have clashed in the past over California’s response to wildfires.

The latest fires have destroyed over 12,300 homes and killed at least 16 people. Authorities are still battling the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires.

{Matzav.com}