EPA watchdog closes two Pruitt investigations

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closed two investigations it had opened into alleged misconduct by former chief Scott Pruitt due to his resignation.

In a report to Congress on Thursday, the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) said it had been looking into whether Pruitt’s cut-rate apartment rental from a lobbyist was an improper gift and whether numerous alleged actions by the former administrator constituted abuse of his position.

“Mr. Pruitt resigned prior to being interviewed by investigators. For that reason, the OIG deemed that the result of the investigation was inconclusive. The case will be closed,” the office wrote in short summaries of both probes.

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The probes were detailed in a semiannual report covering major OIG actions between April and September that was obtained by The Hill. The Washington Post first reported on the findings.

Pruitt resigned his post in July due to numerous scandals and ethics concerns that had surfaced, mostly through news reports, in the months prior.

For a period of time in 2017, Pruitt rented an apartment for just $50 per night that he stayed in on Capitol Hill. It was owned by Vicki Hart, wife of Steven Hart, a lobbyist with business before the EPA.

Democrats alleged that the rental was an improper gift from a lobbyist. Pruitt denied the charge and said that EPA ethics staff had cleared the rental — but only after it became public, and without all of the relevant information.

The OIG said it looked into allegations that ethics staff were improperly pressured to approve the rental, and found the charges “not supported.”

The second OIG probe was a catch-all for numerous allegations that surfaced this year, including “that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had subordinates at the EPA assist him in finding personal housing; that he used his official position and EPA staff to seek a ‘business opportunity’ for his wife with Chick-fil-A, a fast-food restaurant chain; that he enlisted subordinates at the EPA to secure a mattress for his personal use; and that he had his security detail run errands for him,” the OIG said in its summary.

The OIG also said there were nine instances of “potentially threatening” comments directed toward Pruitt during the reporting period, but it did not find any to be a credible threat. Pruitt had previously cited similar threats to justify his unprecedented 24-hour security detail and other expensive security measures.