Think Progress Even before he was sworn in as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Scott Pruitt was demonstrating the questionable judgment that has marked his 15-month tenure as head of the agency. Working with his soon-to-be chief of staff, Pruitt explored the possibility of establishing an EPA office in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. If successful, Pruitt could have stayed i... Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer issued the following statement today after the resignations of EPA Senior Adviser Albert Kelly, who oversaw the Superfund program, and EPA security chief Pasquale “Nino” Perrotta: “Scott Pruitt should be the next to go. The exodus of Pruitt’s closest aides shows just how toxic his reign at EPA has become,” said Rep. Beyer. “Albert Kelly was never qualified to run Superfund, his bank... Read more »

Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Congressman Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) sent two records request letters to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA). The letters request documents and communic... Read more »

AP The two top officials in charge of security and toxic-waste cleanups at the Environmental Protection Agency have abruptly left their jobs, days after EPA administrator Scott Pruitt told lawmakers that his subordinates were to blame for alleged ethical lapses that have prompted more than a dozen federal investigations of the agency. In statements Tuesday, Pruitt praised the two men — security ch... Read more »

USA TODAY Embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is facing new criticism after it was revealed his controversial trip to Morocco was partially arranged by a lobbyist and cost $100,000 — more than double what was previously reported. The report in The Washington Postdetails more about the December trip, including that Richard Smotkin, a former Comcast lobbyist who is a longtime friend of Pruitt, ... Read more »

ABC News As investigations into alleged ethical misconduct at the Environmental Protection Agency heat up, two high-ranking aides to administrator Scott Pruitt have abruptly left their jobs this week. Democrats have raised questions about spending and security decisions made by the head of Pruitt's security team, Nino Perrotta, as well as about the professional background of Albert Kelly, a senior... Read more »

Washington Post — But the probes continue at the EPA’s internal watchdog... The EPA's inspector general confirmed last week it will investigate Pruitt’s controversial condo deal, The Post’s Brady Dennis reported. It’s the 10th federal investigation into the administrator. In a letter to Democratic Reps. Don Beyer (Va.) and Ted Lieu (Calif.), who requested the review, inspector general Arthur A. El... Read more »

Today, Congressmen Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Don Beyer (D-VA) released the Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General’s letter confirming that the IG is reviewing Administrator Scott Pruitt’s conduct in office. The letter was a response to calls by Mr. Lieu and Mr. Beyer for an IG investigation into Administrator Pruitt’s below-market condo lease, as well as an after-the-fact e... Read more »

Scott Pruitt’s hearings today featured what was essentially an admission that he lied on FoxNews and, reportedly, to President Trump about his knowledge of raises given to key aides. It was one of the minority of questions he actually answered, amid a series of evasions, equivocations, pivots, filibusters, and falsehoods. His most common response was “I’m not aware.” Here are a few other key momen... Read more »

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) today led 87 Representatives in urging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to reinstate longstanding policy that requires factories and industrial operations to limit toxic air pollutants. In January, EPA announced the roll back of the “once in, always in” policy—critical guidance in place since 199... Read more »