Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has resigned after months of ethics controversies.

In his resignation letter, Pruitt cited “unrelenting attacks on me personally” as one of the reasons for his departure. While Pruitt had been hailed by conservatives for his zealous deregulation, he could not overcome a spate of questions about his alleged spending abuses, first-class travel, and cozy relationships with lobbyists.   At least six investigations into Scott Pruitt’s conduct will proceed against the former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, despite his July 5 resignation.

The EPA inspector general’s office announced in early July that five of its inquiries will continue. They are examining Mr. Pruitt’s frequent travel to Oklahoma and first-class flights; the management of and payment for his 24-hour security detail; a series of hiring and pay-raise decisions affecting political appointees; and the preservation of Mr. Pruitt’s emails and text messages.  An agency spokeswoman also said investigators would compile a “factual record” of a meeting that Mr. Pruitt held with the National Mining Association in April 2017.

In addition, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is moving forward with a broad investigation into Mr. Pruitt’s spending, management and use of federal resources.

Posted by Helen Gillespie