Scott Pruitt’s tenure at the Environmental Protection Agency was marred by a slew of controversial spending, ethics and management decisions. Threaded here is just some of The Washington Post’s reporting on his leadership. wapo.st/2tXCJoa
Aides detail some of Pruitt’s most questionable actions, including his push to find a six-figure job for his wife at a politically connected group and to enlist staffers in performing personal tasks. wapo.st/2tWyyJm
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is investigating whether Pruitt retaliated against EPA staffers who questioned his spending and leadership. wapo.st/2IW8XVH
Starting on his first day, Pruitt had a round-the-clock security detail costing taxpayers an estimated $3.5 million in his first year. wapo.st/2tVMcfA
The EPA installed a soundproof phone booth for Pruitt’s office that ended up costing about $43,000. A federal watchdog found it violated federal spending laws. wapo.st/2Nui43p
Pruitt routinely flew first-class and stayed in high-end hotels on dozens of trips during his first year, racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded expenses. wapo.st/2KQMtHm
A lobbyist helped to arrange Pruitt’s $100,000 trip last December to Morocco, only to later receive a $40,000-a-month contract from that country to promote its interests. wapo.st/2rdUgGu
The red flags Pruitt’s activities raised went beyond spending. He enlisted an aide to help his wife find a job, even exploring the prospect of getting her a Chick-fil-A franchise. His wife started but did not complete the application. wapo.st/2tX0FYL
Pruitt paid $50 a night to stay in a lobbyist’s Capitol Hill condo, raising questions about conflicts of interest. wapo.st/2KP3Fg9
That lobbyist’s husband then pushed Pruitt’s chief of staff to hire a family friend for the EPA. wapo.st/2IXo2pO
Pruitt’s role in the substantial pay increases that two EPA employees received prompted scrutiny and criticism. wapo.st/2Gu8BZZ
More than a dozen federal inquiries launched while Pruitt led the EPA. For more reporting on Pruitt and the agency, follow @eilperin, @brady_dennis and @jdawsey1.
