Washington (CNN) Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday denounced Andrew Wheeler, who is slated to replace the recently resigned Scott Pruitt as acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Speaking to Jim Sciutto on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," the independent Vermont senator said he is "vigorously opposed" to Wheeler as Pruitt's replacement.

"We need an EPA administrator -- and I know this is a radical idea -- that actually believes in environmental protection," Sanders said, "rather than just the profits of the oil, gas or coal industry."

Wheeler's previous capacity at the EPA was as deputy administrator, Pruitt's second in command.

As a lobbyist at Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting, Wheeler represented Murray Energy, the self-billed "largest coal mining company in America." He was also once an aide for Sen. Jim Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican who, in an interview with CNN last year in March , accused the EPA of "brainwashing" American children.

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