EPA spokeswoman Liz Bowman‘s exit marks the agency’s third departure this week. | Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo EPA’s top spokesperson to depart

EPA’s top spokeswoman is leaving the agency, the latest in a string of departures by key staffers amid the swarm of investigations into Administrator Scott Pruitt’s potential ethical lapses.

The exit of Liz Bowman comes after Pruitt’s lead security agent, Pasquale “Nino” Perrotta, and EPA's Superfund task force head and adviser Albert “Kell” Kelly both quit earlier this week. Perrotta has cited negative media attention as contributing to his decision. His role in Pruitt’s security spending was under review by the agency’s inspector general, and he was interviewed by House Oversight Committee staffers on Wednesday.


EPA also confirmed Kelly was leaving because he attracted controversy over being banned from the banking industry.

Bowman, who will join Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst's staff, has been associate administrator for public affairs since shortly after Pruitt was confirmed in early 2017. She was previously director of issue and advocacy communications for the American Chemistry Council.

“I leave extremely thankful for the opportunity to serve the Trump administration and Administrator Pruitt,“ Bowman said. “Being a member of the EPA team has allowed me to further my skills, learn from my mistakes and make lifelong friendships. It has also provided me the opportunity to develop a new, and deep, respect for the public servants who serve the American people, day in and day out, to ensure that we all have access to clean air, land and water.”

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EPA chief of staff Ryan Jackson said Bowman “has been an invaluable lead of our public affairs office during this past year.”

“I congratulate her on pursuing great and new opportunities on Capitol Hill where we’ll continue to work with her, just in a different capacity,” he said.

Bowman’s last day at EPA is May 11.

Daniel Lippman contributed to this report.

