Donald Trump released his embattled Environmental Protection Agency chief after more than a year of negative press, one story after another about how Scott Pruitt was wasting millions of tax dollars and embarrassing the Trump administration. From luxury vacations in Europe to his taxpayer-funded (and unnecessary) security detail on a hunt for his favorite hand lotion from a luxury hotel chain, it all became too much and Donald Trump eventually asked him to slither away.
Pruitt left and appears to have slithered right into the swamp that Donald Trump promised to drain. From the New York Times:
Scott Pruitt, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, is in discussions to work as a consultant to the Kentucky coal mining tycoon Joseph W. Craft III, according to two industry executives familiar with the plans.
The two became “close” during Pruitt’s time at the EPA.
Mr. Craft, the chief executive of Alliance Resource Partners and a major Republican donor, enjoyed a close relationship with the E.P.A. during Mr. Pruitt’s tenure. Mr. Craft met with Mr. Pruitt at least seven times in Mr. Pruitt’s first 14 months at the agency and in December provided him with courtside seats at a University of Kentucky basketball game, a school where Mr. Craft is a prominent supporter.
According to two industry officials, Mr. Pruitt laid out his plans to develop a new consulting firm in one-on-one discussions with several executives during a Kentucky Coal Association meeting last week. The executives asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the plans. One described the venture as working with Mr. Craft “on a personal level.” The executives said Mr. Pruitt would not be an employee of Alliance and that his roster would eventually include other clients.
Sounds quite cozy! But, you see, Scott Pruitt can’t lobby officially. He’s just, you know, consulting. BIG difference, right?
Under an ethics pledge imposed by President Trump, Mr. Pruitt would be barred from directly lobbying the E.P.A. for five years in any new role, but he would not be restricted from working as a private consultant advising the company on E.P.A. related matters or working on the state level to influence regulatory policy.
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