I was just about to share another story about Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt's ongoing corruption and another story popped up while I was still reading the first one.
Let's start with the most ridiculous story first. CBS News reports that Pruitt asked his security detail to run their sirens because he was running late for appointment and he reassigned the agent who correctly said that would be illegal.
Several weeks after taking the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator Scott Pruitt was running late and stuck in Washington, D.C., traffic. Sources tell CBS News that he wanted to use his vehicle's lights and sirens to get to his official appointment, but the lead agent in charge of his security detail advised him that sirens were to be used only in emergencies.
Less than two weeks later that agent was removed from Pruitt's detail, reassigned to a new job within the EPA.
So, there's that. I legitimately thought this only happens in movies.
The Daily Beast also reported this morning that Pruitt has been lying about the EPA's relationship with the owners of the lobbyist condo he lived in.
Pruitt has said the lobbyists have no business with the EPA, but that's not even close to true.
A review of lobbying disclosure forms and publicly-listed EPA records, however, suggests that Pruitt is either lying or is woefully unfamiliar with the operations of his own agency.
Far from being removed from any EPA-related interests, Hart was personally representing a natural gas company, an airline giant, and a major manufacturer that had business before the agency at the time he was also renting out a room to Pruitt. One of his clients is currently battling the EPA in court over an order to pay more than $100 million in environmental cleanup costs.
As you might have expected, conservatives have responded to Pruitt's unparalleled corruption by rallying to his defense.
The way they see it, liberals are attacking him because he's been effective at his job; his job being opening up vulnerable land and communities to pollution.
They don't care about the corruption as long as he rolls back regulations.