Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt abused his position at EPA in an attempt to secure a Chick-fil-a franchise for his wife. In emails obtained via the Sierra Club’s FOIA litigation, Pruitt’s taxpayer-funded staff are revealed to have reached out to Chick-fil-a to pursue a “business opportunity” that turned out to be this money-making effort by Pruitt. In response, Senator Joni Ernst said Pruitt “is about as swampy as you get here in Washington, DC. And if the president wants to drain the swamp, he needs to take a look at his own Cabinet.” Senator James Inhofe, one of Pruitt’s closest allies, stated “I don't know whether it is true or not. It is not going to help his career. Nonetheless, that could be a problem if it turns out to be true."
Well, it’s true, and its just the latest and perhaps the most blatant attempt by Scott Pruitt to enrich himself at the expense of the public’s trust and the taxpayer’s dollar.
It’s only Wednesday, but Pruitt’s latest scandals have become so bizarre he’s probably wishing it was Friday. This week alone, the following scandals were exposed:
$1,560 Pens: The Washington Post reports that emails released via Sierra Club FOIA litigation helped indicate that Pruitt spent over $1,500 on 12 pens. You read that right: Pruitt spent less on rent for his lobbyist landlord’s condo in a month than he did on 12 taxpayer funded pens. Fancy. He also spent an additional $1,670 on other items from the upscale jewelry store, including personalized journals.
Courtside seats: At one of the biggest games of the season, Pruitt scored some of the best seats in the University of Kentucky basketball arena courtesy of coal baron Joseph W. Craft III - and their cozy relationship doesn’t stop there, according to a New York Times expose.
Used Trump Hotel Mattress: Senior House Democrats demand answers after testimony from one of Pruitt’s closest aides revealed that Pruitt -- raising serious questions about Federal Ethics laws -- had his staff conducting his personal housing search, booking his personal flights and even helping furnish his apartment. In fact, Pruitt’s director of scheduling and advance reached out to the DC Trump hotel looking to purchase a used Trump mattress for Pruitt. Gross.
Again, these are just the newest scandals. You don’t have to look hard to see Pruitt’s deep record of corruption. In fact, here’s a summary.
Today, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders should answer the following questions:
Scott Pruitt has now demonstrably abused his office on numerous occasions to enrich himself and his family, using taxpayer-funded staff to find him a place to live, a used mattress, and a Chick-fil-a franchise. What is President Trump’s position on Pruitt leveraging his position for personal gain?
You have said several times over the last few months that the White House as “looking into” Pruitt’s numerous corruption scandals. Who is doing this looking, what have you found, and when will you have an answer?
Senators Inhofe, Grassley, and Ernst have all said in the past few days that Pruitt’s scandals are becoming unacceptable. Does the President still stand behind Pruitt after all this criticism from within his own party and all of these clear examples of Pruitt’s corruption?
From a personal level, are you getting tired of defending Scott Pruitt as more and more absurd scandals snowball every day?
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.