Yesterday, news broke by the Washington Post and New York Times shows that EPA administrator Scott Pruitt isn’t just friendly with lobbyists like his landlord - in fact, his expensive trips to Morocco and Italy were planned and accompanied by lobbyists Richard Smotkin and Leonard Leo. Here’s what we know so far:
Scott Pruitt lied to Congress about retaliating against EPA staff who tried to ensure his use of taxpayer dollars is transparent, accountable, and justified, according to an ABC News interview with a Trump loyalist forced out at EPA. This news comes as Pruitt’s top political appointees and aides - including the scandal-ridden security chief and the Superfund task force head who was banned from the banking industry - are fleeing the EPA.
Yesterday, after saying he had nothing to hide, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt failed to answer questions, caught himself in two lies, and proved he’s been unable to do his job. Even his former Republican allies are no long defending him. To boot, 58-percent of Americans think Donald Trump should fire Pruitt.
After months of preparation, Scott Pruitt failed to answer for his near endless scandals and illegal actions. Now, even his staunchest supporters are reportedly questioning whether Pruitt’s baggage is even worth it. He had months to prepare for today, and he even turned down overtures from the White House. When it came time to face Congress, Scott Pruitt was unable to answer Republicans, let alone Democrats’ questions. Instead he lied, he tried to deflect the blame, and he obfuscated. But at no point did Scott Pruitt ever answer for the fact that he’s abused taxpayer funds, that he’s ignored Donald Trump’s orders, and that he’s failed to uphold the public’s trust.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Scott Pruitt faced harsh and at times hostile questions from both Democrats and Republicans while defending his ethical transgressions and illegal actions at the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing. During the hearing, Pruitt admitted to giving his chief of staff the greenlight to give massive raises to his top aides. This contradicts Pruitt’s previous statements and Fox News interview where he denied any knowledge of the raises. Pruitt was also forced to answer questions about his sweetheart condo deal owned by the spouse of a fossil fuel lobbyist. Pruitt has repeatedly claimed that he paid market rate for the condo, even telling Trump that he has. However, the Daily Beast reported today that Pruitt’s lobbyist landlord charge others twice as much -- $100 a night -- just to hold events at the condo.
Today, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt faces two House hearings -- without the White House’s assistance -- on his ethical and illegal actions. He can try his best to shift the blame, but these scandals all have one thing in common: Scott Pruitt. Below are just the highlights of the long list of Pruitt’s wrongdoings.
Today, in the White House Press Briefing, Washington Post reporter Ashley Parker asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders how EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt still has a job and how his behavior is corresponds with Trump’s promise to “drain the swamp” given his many ethical scandals
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Sierra Club began airing a TV ad on Fox and Friends calling for Trump to fire Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. The ads will air on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. The ad focuses on Pruitt’s swamp-like behavior including lavish spending and the Republican backlash.
Today, Senator Jim Inhofe, a former staunch Scott Pruitt ally, was asked whether Pruitt should resign if the allegations of his abuse of taxpayer funds, illegal spending, and other misconduct are true. Inhofe responded saying it "depends on which ones we are talking about."
The walls of Scott Pruitt’s support keep tumbling down. Yesterday, Politico reported that even staunch Pruitt ally Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is supportive of holding hearings by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to look into the former Oklahoma attorney general's actions.
Bloomberg is reporting that the White House, has “discouraged lawmakers from vigorously defending” Pruitt.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- To top off an already bad week filled with broken laws, even more federal investigations, and overwhelming Republican criticism, today it was revealed that Scott Pruitt attempted to waste even more taxpayer money on frivolous expenditures, including a key card swipe system on the doors to the waiting area outside his office; having an EPA staffer hand-deliver daily news clips to his home each evening; and a proposal to rent a second condo in his lobbyist’s building so that his security detail did not have to park on the street overnight.