Embattled but defiant, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt tells Congress he has 'nothing to hide'

Show Caption Hide Caption Democrats Battle Pruitt Over Ethics, EPA Policy Democratic lawmakers assailed EPA chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday for the ethics and spending scandals that have prompted multiple calls for his ouster. The chairman of the panel that is questioning Pruitt called the allegations a "distraction but one this committee cannot ignore." (April 26)

WASHINGTON — Embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt defiantly told lawmakers he has "nothing to hide" amid a flurry of probes into ethical and mismanagement allegations that he said were based on "half-truths."

In a contentious Capitol Hill hearing Thursday that lasted more than three and a half hours, Pruitt characterized the relentless criticism — some of it from his own party — as a politically motivated assault by individuals and groups unhappy with his work to aggressively undo regulations President Trump has said obstruct economic growth.

"I have nothing to hide as it relates to how I've run the agency the past 16 months," Pruitt told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Those attacking him, he said "want to derail (the deregulatory agenda) ... I'm simply not going to let that happen."

Pruitt also testified before members of the House Appropriations Committee Thursday afternoon.

As the Democratic drumbeat intensifies for his ouster, the EPA Administrator faced questions on a litany of alleged ethical and spending missteps, including the awarding of pay raises to top aides, luxury travel accommodations, his below-market rental agreement with the wife of an energy lobbyist, and the installation of a secure phone booth.

But if Pruitt's critics were hoping the hearing would demonstrate broad, bipartisan disgust with the EPA administrator's conduct — and louder calls for his firing — they were disappointed.

Questioning at the hearing ping-ponged between Democrats who pressed him on specific allegations and broadly condemned the rollbacks of environmental protections and Republicans who said Pruitt was being pilloried by groups who want to stop deregulation.

"You have failed as a steward of taxpayer dollars and of America's environment," Rep. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., who chairs the Environment Subcommittee where Pruitt testified Thursday morning, told the administrator. "You were never fit for this job.”

Rep. David McKInley, R-W.Va., called the criticisms "a massive display of innuendo and McCarthyism."

Most Republicans on the committee applauded Pruitt for his agency's direction, though a couple — Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania and Leonard Lance of New Jersey — said they were troubled by some of the allegations and pressed him for explanations.

Two weeks ago, Pruitt's former deputy chief of staff came forward with allegations that his ex-boss overspent his office allowance, demanded security measures that weren't warranted, and insisted on exorbitant travel arrangements — including the rental of a $100,000-per-month private jet that was rejected.

Last week, the Government Accountability Office — Congress' watchdog agency — concluded the EPA broke the spending laws when it failed to tell lawmakers that it was allocating more than $43,000 to install the soundproof phone booth in Pruitt's office last year.

Pruitt acknowledged that there have been "very troubling media reports" over the past few weeks.

"I promise you that I more than anyone want to establish the hard facts and provide answers to questions surrounding these reports," he said, dismissing many of he allegations as false. But "facts are facts and fiction is fiction. And a lie doesn’t become true just because it appears on the front page page of a newspaper."

Pruitt went on to tell lawmakers that responsibility for what happens at the EPA "rests with me and no one else."

But "let’s have no illusions about what is really going on here: those who attack the EPA and attack me are doing so because they want to attack and derail the president’s agenda and undermine this administration's progress," he said.

Pruitt has kept his job in the face of withering criticism from most Democrats and a small but growing number of Republicans because President Trump continues to have confidence in him and his attempts to aggressively dismantle Obama-era environmental rules that industry leaders say hamper economic growth.

Pruitt and his aides have refuted some of the allegations and downplayed others, often saying previous administrations spent similar amounts, especially when it came to travel. The high costs of protecting Pruitt were due mainly to the unprecedented level and volume of threats against him, they said.

On Thursday Pruitt responded to some of the allegations:

— On the installation of a secure phone booth costing more than $43,000 that was found to violate congressional spending laws that require he inform appropriations committees:

Pruitt said he installed the secure line for confidential calls with President Trump and other high-ranking officials on sensitive topics. He said he was not aware of the price tag and his agency has since complied with the law by informing congressional committees of the expense.

"If I'd known about it, I would have refused it," he said.

— On whether he approved large raises for two top aides over White House objections:

"I was not aware at any time of the amount or the process that was used," he told members of the Appropriations Committee during a hearing Thursday afternoon. He said he has since rescinded the raises.

— On the upgrade of his official vehicle to a luxury SUV:

He said the purchase "was something in process prior" to his arrival. He said he did not ask for the vehicle and did not offer "direction" to buy it.

— On whether he retaliated against employees who questioned his spending or conduct, including a former top aide who was placed on unpaid administrative leave after he refused to retroactively approve first-class airfare for a senior Pruitt aide on a return flight from Morocco in December.

Pruitt repeatedly denied ever punishing punished aides who may have challenged his decisions regarding travel or other conduct.

— On racking up more than $100,000 in taxpayer-funded first- and business-class flights:

Pruitt said he did so at the recommendation of his security detail. He said he has since returned to flying coach because "from an optics and perception standpoint (his first-class travel) was creating a distraction."

Despite Pruitt's explanations, White House officials indicated the volume of alleged missteps is trying their patience.

"We're evaluating these concerns, and we expect the EPA Administrator to answer for them," White House Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during a briefing Wednesday when asked about Pruitt.

Environmentalists from the start have been against Pruitt, the former Oklahoma Attorney General who sued the EPA 14 times to undo a myriad of regulations.

His efforts to roll back rules limiting carbon emissions, regulating bodies of water, and auto emissions have earned him the enmity of environmental groups and public health advocates.

On Tuesday, Pruitt announced a proposed rule that would limit the scope of scientific studies the agency uses as the foundation underpinning many of its regulations. The move that could fundamentally reshape the way science supports environmental protections.