Former EPA head says Scott Pruitt is 'unfit to run the EPA because he lacks ethical integrity'

Daily Kos Staff

Friday April 27, 2018 · 8:49 AM PDT

2018/04/27 · 08:49

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 26: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Environment Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill April 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. The focus of nearly a dozen federal inquiries into his travel expenses, security practices and other issues, Pruitt testified about his agency's FY2019 budget proposal. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Get in your soundproof booth!!!! We're coming for you!!!!

Calling Scott Pruitt unfit to run the country’s Environmental Protection Agency is an understatement in many respects. He’s anti-science, he’s a tyrannical narcissist of a leader, and he’s so transparently corrupt. Over the past few months, former EPA agency-heads, scientists and others have been asked their opinions about the never-ending stream of allegations of impropriety coming from the Pruitt EPA. People like former EPA-chief under George W. Bush, Christine Todd Whitman seem particularly blown away by how egregious Scott Pruitt’s infractions have been. Writing an opinion piece in The Hill, Whitman calls for Pruitt’s resignation.

Scott Pruitt’s ethical tone deafness has, ironically, come across loud and clear. The rule he signed this week targeting what he called “secret science” serves as yet further evidence of his inability to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with ethical integrity. In fact, the new rule is a surefire way to kill science at the agency as it de-incentivizes the private sector to share proprietary studies with the EPA.

This echoes what she told NorthJersey.com about Pruitt, a couple of weeks ago.

To her, Pruitt is something of a showboat: "He wants to be in the public eye and that’s what he’s getting," she said. And Pruitt's conduct is emblematic of an "extraordinarily ethically tone deaf administration" where lavish trips, accepting gifts and buying expensive furniture — Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson's $31,000 dining room set comes to mind — are more the norm than the exception. Pruitt is also facing questions over his $50-a-night rental from the wife of a environmental lobbyist.

Asked about his security detail she was equally confused.

Whitman says she had none of that. She often walked to work — even after the 9/11 attacks.

She said as many as five security agents could be assigned for overseas travel. But inside the nation's capital, "I usually did not have security. I had a car and one driver."

Whitman is not the most reliable narrator. This is the same EPA chief that told first responders and the world that no one had anything to worry about in regards to their health during the clean up of 9/11. And while she was business-friendly, and possibly criminally negligent, it does not seem to be because she was a raging corrupt egomaniac. However, we can all agree that whatever Ms. Whitman’s faults, she is dead-right about this:

In addition to his policy dismantling, Pruitt’s ethical lapses not only make him a questionable spokesperson, but also a detriment to the agency. His private phone booth creates an atmosphere of distrust. He sequesters himself, interacting only with a select group of people, and he doesn’t engage with staff. On one hand, Pruitt touts “open science” and on the other hand he fosters an environment of secrecy and distrust. Even the “secret science” rule was announced while limiting access to reporters and scientists at the event.

Scott Pruitt is unfit to run the EPA because he lacks ethical integrity — a quality that is of the utmost importance when entrusted with protecting the environment and public health.

There may not be a single person tied to this administration at which you couldn’t righteously chant “lock him/her up.”

Comments are closed on this story.