Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
Scott Pruitt’s desperate attempts to save his job and repair his relationship with Donald Trump are unraveling faster than the flow of stories on his unethical actions.
Last night, Pruitt’s defense of his sweetheart condo deal with a fossil fuel lobbyist crumbled in real time as the same EPA Ethics official Pruitt was pointing to as cover walked back his approval of the deal as new details emerged.
The EPA ethics official made clear that his March 2018 comments on the lease - coming nearly seven months after Pruitt left the property - did not account for the full facts on Pruitt’s living situation, as Pruitt had not provided those facts.
Now, the undated lease on which the lobbyist’s name is scribbled out in pen and replaced with his wife’s name, is under investigation by the EPA Inspector General.
Seriously, you have to look at this, its absurd.
But, wait. As is always the case with Pruitt, there is more...
The Trump White House isn’t willing to say he has confidence in the administrator or if Pruitt will still have a job next week.
Meanwhile, the AP reports White House sources describe Pruitt’s situation as “unsustainable.”
The Daily Beast reports that on Tuesday morning, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly ordered Pruitt to clean up his act -- not console him, as initial reports indicated. Shortly after that call, the news broke that Pruitt defied Trump by pushing massive raises for his friends from Oklahoma.
Pruitt’s desperate conservative media tour went up in flames on Trump’s favorite network, Fox News, as he was pressed hard by Ed Henry on his numerous scandals and attempted to duck any responsibility while revealing startling little knowledge about his own agency and the American public.
Top Pruitt confidant Samantha Dravis has resigned from the EPA. Dravis had previously accompanied Pruitt on his trip to Morocco promote liquid natural gas exports -- an issue outside of the EPA’s purview, but heavily backed by the clients of the Pruitt’s fossil fuel lobbyist landlord.
Meanwhile, Axios reports that administration officials believe there’s even more to come on Pruitt.
Today, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders should answer:
How does the White House feel about Pruitt now that ethics officials have walked back their approval of his sweetheart condo deal?
What is the president’s response to the fact that even after Pruitt was warned to clean up his act, he has created even more headlines detailing numerous scandals?
How many more embarrassing headlines will Pruitt generate before Trump fires him?
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