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EPA chief faces White House inquiry over condo owned by lobbyist – reports | EPA chief faces White House inquiry over condo owned by lobbyist – reports |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The White House is reviewing the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency chief, Scott Pruitt, after reports he paid below the market rate to live in a condo owned by a lobbyist who deals with issues overseen by the agency, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing an unnamed White House official. | The White House is reviewing the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency chief, Scott Pruitt, after reports he paid below the market rate to live in a condo owned by a lobbyist who deals with issues overseen by the agency, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing an unnamed White House official. |
Pruitt has declined to comment on the rental arrangement reported last week and a spokesman for the agency on Friday defended his conduct and said the lease agreement was in line with federal ethical regulations. | Pruitt has declined to comment on the rental arrangement reported last week and a spokesman for the agency on Friday defended his conduct and said the lease agreement was in line with federal ethical regulations. |
The Journal quoted the official as saying the purpose of the inquiry was to “dig a little deeper”. Another White House official said few people were coming to Pruitt’s defense, the newspaper reported, although there is no sign yet that his position is in jeopardy. | The Journal quoted the official as saying the purpose of the inquiry was to “dig a little deeper”. Another White House official said few people were coming to Pruitt’s defense, the newspaper reported, although there is no sign yet that his position is in jeopardy. |
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. | The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. |
ABC News and Bloomberg News reported last week that during his first six months in Washington last year, Pruitt made a deal to pay about $50 a night – less than a third the price of similar properties – to rent a room in a Capitol Hill neighborhood condo building co-owned by energy industry lobbyist Steven Hart and his wife. | ABC News and Bloomberg News reported last week that during his first six months in Washington last year, Pruitt made a deal to pay about $50 a night – less than a third the price of similar properties – to rent a room in a Capitol Hill neighborhood condo building co-owned by energy industry lobbyist Steven Hart and his wife. |
Pruitt, a conservative who previously served as Oklahoma’s attorney general, is also one of several members of Donald Trump’s cabinet who have come under scrutiny for their travel practices. | |
The EPA confirmed last month that Pruitt’s private security detail accompanied him on first-class flights. | The EPA confirmed last month that Pruitt’s private security detail accompanied him on first-class flights. |
Hart’s firm represents companies regulated by the EPA, including Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co, the shale producer Concho Resources Inc, ExxonMobil Corp and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Cheniere Energy Inc. | Hart’s firm represents companies regulated by the EPA, including Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co, the shale producer Concho Resources Inc, ExxonMobil Corp and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Cheniere Energy Inc. |
Travel records obtained through a public records request show that Pruitt spent over $17,000 in taxpayer money for a December trip to Morocco to promote US exports of LNG. Marketing US LNG is not the jurisdiction of the EPA administrator. | Travel records obtained through a public records request show that Pruitt spent over $17,000 in taxpayer money for a December trip to Morocco to promote US exports of LNG. Marketing US LNG is not the jurisdiction of the EPA administrator. |
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