OK, this is getting ridiculous. How many more examples of Scott Pruitt Edward (Scott) Scott PruittJuan Williams: Swamp creature at the White House Science protections must be enforceable Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE’s unethical behavior do we need before he’s shoved out the door? Every day there’s another report of Pruitt’s attempts to live high on the hog at taxpayer expense.

We’re all familiar with the litany of Pruitt’s misdeeds. But it’s worth cataloguing them in one place, thanks to Axios — just to remind ourselves what a money-grubbing flimflam artist this guy really is. It started with his hemorrhaging money on official perks.

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He insisted on flying first class or leasing a private jet, citing “threats to his safety.” He spent $43,000 on construction of a soundproof telephone booth in his private office. He had biometric locks installed on his office doors at a cost of $5,700. He spent over $3 million on a 24/7, presidential-level security detail, more than three times more than any of his predecessors. Christine Todd Whitman, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator under former President George W. Bush, walked to work. Pruitt is also known to insist that his drivers use flashing lights and sirens when driving him around Washington: a standard practice for the president and vice president, but no other Cabinet member.

When they’re not following his orders to wreck the environment, Pruitt’s also used EPA staff to treat him like royalty. He dispatched his scheduling secretary to buy him a used mattress from the Trump International Hotel. He sent out his security detail to pick up his laundry and search for his favorite body lotion at the Ritz-Carlton. Staffers report they’re routinely asked to procure his favorite snacks. In return, he gave two top aides big raises, even though the White House rejected his request.

Meanwhile, Pruitt uses agency contacts to snag all the benefits he can. He asked a former Virginia politician to get his daughter into the University of Virginia. He tapped a public relations executive to get him two tickets to a sold-out Rose Bowl game. A billionaire coal executive comped him seats for him and his son for a University of Kentucky basketball game. He leaned on a former Comcast lobbyist to set up a trip to Morocco. He famously rented a bedroom on Capitol Hill from the wife of an energy lobbyist for $50 a night. Last week, he was admonished to stop freeloading at the White House mess.

Pruitt has also used taxpayer dollars to benefit his family. He directed EPA staffers to help get his daughter a White House internship. He asked one top staffer to help get his wife a Chick-fil-A franchise, which failed, while another staffer was successful in landing her a job with the Judicial Crisis Network.

Living the life of Reilly at taxpayer expense. Does Pruitt have no shame? In a word, no. Former EPA staffers report that Pruitt told them he (making only $180,000 a year, poor baby) was just, in effect, trying to “keep up with the Joneses” — the wealthiest president and Cabinet in history, including the Trumps (estimated net worth $2.8 billion); the McMahons ($1.6 billion); the DeVoses ($1.5 billion); and the Mnuchins ($400 million).

But Pruitt does have a point. In exploiting his position for personal gain, he’s not alone. He joins current and former Cabinet members Tom Price Thomas (Tom) Edmunds PriceConspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Coronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Chris Christie Trump flails as audience dwindles and ratings plummet MORE, David Shulkin David Jonathon ShulkinVA inspector general says former top official steered M contract to friend Schumer demands answers in use of unproven coronavirus drug on veterans Former Trump VA secretary says staffer found plans to replace him in department copier MORE, Ryan Zinke Ryan Keith ZinkeTrump extends Florida offshore drilling pause, expands it to Georgia, South Carolina Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Trump flails as audience dwindles and ratings plummet MORE and Ben Carson Benjamin (Ben) Solomon CarsonState AGs condemn HUD rule allowing shelters to serve people on basis of biological sex Biden cannot keep letting Trump set the agenda The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump heads to New Hampshire after renomination speech MORE, all of whom were caught on the take. Plus Ivanka Trump Ivana (Ivanka) Marie TrumpSpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report Trump, Biden vie for Minnesota Trump luxury properties have charged US government .1M since inauguration: report MORE and Jared Kushner Jared Corey KushnerAbraham Accords: New hope for peace in Middle East Tenants in Kushner building file lawsuit alleging dangerous living conditions Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing MORE, who raked in over $80 million in outside income in 2017. President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE didn’t drain the swamp. He filled it with swamp-like creatures — of whom Scott Pruitt is the swampiest.



Press is host of “The Bill Press Show” on Free Speech TV and author of “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”