How long can Donald Trump hold on to his embattled EPA director, Scott Pruitt? For some inside the White House, it’s not a question of if, but when.
Pruitt is under fire for misuse of taxpayer money and more recently for taking up residence with a lobbyist.
"You got a guy who is head of the EPA now who is nothing more than a front man for the fossil fuel industry"
In @SenSanders' interview with @margbrennan today, he said there should be hearings into Pruitt's condo controversy ➡️ https://t.co/gQBuBkip3k pic.twitter.com/tvKtH5ERYw
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 1, 2018
It’s not easy to stand out in the Trump cabinet for retrograde policies and ethical lapses, but credit to Scott Pruitt. He finds a way.https://t.co/p4EBMZu0yu
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 1, 2018
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Republicans who don't believe in climate change & want to dismantle environmental protections are a dime a dozen. You don't need @EPAScottPruitt, who spent taxpayer dollars on 1st class travel, violated ethics laws & is deeply paranoid. You should fire him. https://t.co/iS6JdWfmR2
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 31, 2018
Even Donald Trump confidants are raising concerns. Sunday former New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos said:
“This was a brutally unprofessional transition. This was a transition that didn’t vet people for this type of judgment issues… If Mr. Pruitt’s going to go, it’s because he never should’ve been there.”
Does EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt need to exit the Trump administration following ethics concerns over condo rental? Fmr. Gov. Chris Christie: "I don't know how you survive this one, and if he has to go, it's because he never should have been there in the first place." pic.twitter.com/6QMLkkr7xz
— ABC News (@ABC) April 1, 2018
There has been no direct comment from the White House on the controversy surrounding Pruitt, but CNN reports:
“…a government official tells CNN that the lack of responsiveness shows they are not ready to step in and defend Pruitt, who they believe has created a series of headaches for an administration looking to move past controversies involving Cabinet secretaries.
A White House official said the source of the frustration stems from the fact that White House officials began learning about this issue from media reports, not Pruitt himself.”
