Pruitt gets ready to answer for his actions—and the White House is leaving him out to dry
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Republicans are getting tired of answering for Scott Pruitt. As much as they may say he’s doing “a good job”—meaning that he’s destroying not just the regulations that protect the air, water, soil and health of Americans, but the whole basis for thPruitt gets ready to answer for his actions—and the White House is leaving him out to dry
Republicans are getting tired of answering for Scott Pruitt. As much as they may say he’s doing “a good job”—meaning that he’s destroying not just the regulations that protect the air, water, soil and health of Americans, but the whole basis for the EPA—his pricey first class flights, even pricier chartered flights, still pricier use of military planes, and apparently endless laundry list of scandals is wearing out Pruitt’s welcome. With the inspector general already looking into: Pruitt’s $50-a-night luxury town home provided by a fossil fuel lobbyist. Pruitt’s big money house flip that appears to be an only mildly disguised bribe from another lobbyist. Pruitt’s routing around the White House to give two of his pals a big raise by stealing from a fund for outside experts—then lying about it. Pruitt’s $2 million a year personal security detail that he has defended even though a FOIA request to the EPA turned up no threats. Pruitt’s purchase of a $43,000 soundproof booth and other frivolous purchases. Pruitt’s $120,000 trip to Rome that included a private tour of the Vatican. Pruitt’s trip to Morrocco that not only still doesn’t have a final price tag, it doesn’t have a stated purpose or schedule. Pruitt has retaliated against EPA staff by dismissing, demoting or reassigning those who try to point out when he is breaking the rules. It’s time for Scott Pruitt to drop by Capitol Hill and do a little chatting. And he’s doing so at a point when Pruitt and the White House are not exactly singing in harmony. Two sources familiar with Pruitt’s preparation for the hearing say that the EPA has turned down an offer from the White House to help prepare the administrator for what is sure to be a bruising few hours of questions about the ethics and government spending controversies that have dogged him of late. One of the sources, a White House official, characterized the EPA’s response to the West Wing as “get lost.” Pruitt has become such a constant embarrassment that even Republicans are hoping he’s the one who gets lost. Meanwhile, Pruitt went ahead and unveiled his expected new rules for EPA “transparency.” And in Trump bizarro-world fashion … he didn’t allow the public in. Read more