Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Prompted by mounting investigations into Ryan Zinke’s conduct, Donald Trump announced last month that today would be Zinke’s final day at the Department of the Interior.
Zinke led the largest attack on America’s public lands and waters in history, including the elimination of protections for more than 2 million acres of public lands, attempts to open up all of America’s coasts to dangerous offshore drilling, and a proposal to allow destructive oil drilling and exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Zinke was also the subject of more than a dozen investigations -- including one referred to the Department of Justice for possible criminal charges -- over his repeated ethical violations, misuse of taxpayer funds, and mismanagement of the department.
In announcing his resignation last month, Zinke took no responsibility for these failings, instead blaming “fictitious allegations” made against him and claiming that he did not want to spend money defending himself from ethics inquiries. Then, in a nearly illegible handwritten note released today, Zinke claimed that he “restored public lands ‘for the benefit & enjoyment of the people,’” despite the fact that his agenda was entirely focused on selling off public lands to the fossil fuel industry at the American people’s expense.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Ryan Zinke has been the most corrupt Interior Secretary in our nation’s history and his resignation and farewell letters exemplify just how delusional he is about his tenure. Zinke was unfit to lead, and his constant abuses of power and shameless pro-polluter agenda make it clear that he has no business holding any public office ever again.”
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.