Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt was grilled by lawmakers Thursday on Capitol Hill about a slew of scandals over his spending habits and ties to industry lobbyists.
Pruitt faces more than a half-dozen investigations. Among the scandals, he paid only $50 a night to live in a Capitol Hill condo owned by the wife of a prominent Washington energy lobbyist whose firm represents a roster of fossil fuel companies. Pruitt had a $43,000 soundproof phone booth installed in his office, which a government watchdog says violated spending laws. Pruitt had the EPA spend $3 million on his security detail, including 18 full-time agents. Pruitt routinely travels first- or business-class, reportedly because Pruitt was confronted by economy-class customers angry over his policies.
On Thursday, lawmakers demanded Pruitt’s resignation and pressed him on reports he has retaliated against employees who raised concerns about his spending habits. This is New Jersey Democratic Congressmember Frank Pallone.
Rep. Frank Pallone: “It has been reported that at least five EPA employees were recently reassigned, demoted or otherwise retaliated against, after they raised concerns about your spending. Is that correct? Yes or no?”
Scott Pruitt: “I don’t ever recall a conversation to that end.”
Rep. Frank Pallone: “All right, well, I’ll take that as a yes.”
We’ll have more on Scott Pruitt’s hearing later in the broadcast.