Democrats on Wednesday tried to corner President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency over a conflict of interest if he does not recuse himself from several lawsuits opposing the agency’s climate rules and other regulations.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a top climate advocate, pressed Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to recuse himself from the litigation because he said the conflict would be too serious to allow Pruitt to be confirmed as EPA administrator.
Pruitt responded that he has “every desire to recuse” once he is directed to do so by the EPA’s ethics council. “If directed to do so, I will do so.”
Markey wouldn’t take his word on that, stating that in the cases you will become “plaintiff, defendant, judge and jury.”
“You’re not committed to recuse yourself from those cases,” Markey said, adding that Pruitt would be in the position to repeal regulations that he is suing over, with other state attorneys general, if confirmed as EPA administrator.
Recusing himself voluntarily is the “only way to ensure” that the EPA maintains the “appearance of independence” and not in favor of industries it is charged to regulate.
“I will recuse” as directed by EPA ethics officials, Pruitt said.
Markey said Pruitt should declare that he would recuse himself from any litigation. Otherwise, there is a “conflict of interest.”
Freshman Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who served as attorney general of the Golden State, continued to press him on recusing himself voluntarily.
