Whitehouse Responds to Pruitt Withdrawal from Oklahoma GOP Fundraiser Following Hatch Act Complaint

‘This is the least he could do’

Washington, DC – Today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt indicated he would no longer headline an Oklahoma Republican Party fundraiser after a complaint filed with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, which called for an investigation into apparent Hatch Act violations by Pruitt. Whitehouse released the following statement on Pruitt’s reversal:

“This is the least he can do. But the Office of Special Counsel still must do a thorough investigation to determine whether Administrator Pruitt ran afoul of the Hatch Act. Scott Pruitt has a long record of dark money fundraising and cozy relationships with big, fossil-fuel political donors. The American people need to know whether he is using his position at EPA to promote the political actors who support him.”

In the complaint, Whitehouse pointed to an invitation for the fundraiser that makes numerous references to Pruitt’s status as Administrator and his actions so far in office—a brand of political promotion prohibited by the Hatch Act. The complaint requested that Pruitt not be allowed to attend the fundraiser.

Whitehouse’s complaint is available here.

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