Schumer to Trump: Get rid of Pruitt

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is urging President Trump to get rid of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, saying he epitomizes “the swamp.”

“If you want to drain the swamp, Mr. President, get rid of Mr. Pruitt, but, unfortunately, President Trump has stood by Pruitt,” Schumer said.

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Schumer, directly addressing Trump from the floor, added that if Trump wants to “drain the swamp … you ought to fire Administrator Pruitt immediately. Accept his resignation. Let him leave.”

Schumer is one of a growing list of Senate Democrats who have called on Pruitt to resign amid an increasing number of scandals, including renting a Capitol Hill apartment from a prominent energy lobbyist below market rate.

Schumer added that Pruitt had “amassed an embarrassing list of scandals” that directly contradicted the president’s campaign pledge to “drain the swamp.”

“The level of hypocrisy in this administration is staggering. President Trump says he’s going to drain the swamp. Pruitt characterizes the swamp in just about all of his actions,” Schumer said.

GOP lawmakers have largely stood by Pruitt, who is well liked among Republicans for rolling back Obama-era regulations, despite the steady trickle of news stories about his spending.

Trump also defended Pruitt over the weekend saying in a tweet that “rent was about market rate, travel expenses OK. Scott is doing a great job!”