Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
Today the Washington Post reported that EPA administrator Scott Pruitt spent $1,560 of taxpayer dollars on 12 fountain pens from the Tiny Jewel Box, which calls itself Washington’s “premier destination for fine jewelry and watches.” The purchases were revealed as a result of a Sierra Club Freedom of Information Act request. Pruitt spent more taxpayer dollars per pen (~$130) than he did of his own money per night ($50) and even per month ($1500) on his luxury condo rental.
A more sensible use of $1560 would be on:
23,400 BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pens
6,260 Ticonderoga Pencils
1,404 Pilot G-2s
783 uni-ball Vision Fine Rollerball Pens
In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:
"The writing is on the wall, Scott Pruitt’s penchant for luxury is going to erase him from the EPA. When it comes to the taxpayer’s checkbook, Scott Pruitt is quick to pull out a pen he spent more on than he did his luxury condo rental. Pruitt is trying to rewrite the story of his spending transgressions, but ink is permanent. If Trump wants to avoid any further embarrassment from Pruitt, he’d write him off immediately.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.