So, I'm told Pruitt's spokesperson Jahan Wilcox was the one who "provided" @FreeBeacon the "internal EPA documents" showing Obama's EPA heads spent more than Pruitt on international travel (which is disingenuous, as I explain here: newrepublic.com/article/147681…) 
EPA's Wilcox shopped these documents around to multiple reporters. @FreeBeacon were the only ones to take the bait. They published uncritically with a quote Wilcox provided along with the documents.
The next day, a conservative news outlet with a much wider reach—@FoxNews News—aggregated the story EPA's political operative gave to @FreeBeacon, also without a critical eye. foxnews.com/politics/2018/…
Then, Scott Pruitt went on multiple conservative radio stations, and used the story he created to defend himself against questions about his travel expenses. newrepublic.com/article/147681…
To recap:
Pruitt concocted a false story that Obama's EPA heads spent more than him on travel.
His team shopped the false story to journalists.
Journalists republished the false story.
Pruitt used the false story to defend himself.
newrepublic.com/article/147681…
Pruitt concocted a false story that Obama's EPA heads spent more than him on travel.
His team shopped the false story to journalists.
Journalists republished the false story.
Pruitt used the false story to defend himself.
newrepublic.com/article/147681…
And that’s the way the news goes!
