Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt is setting up a legal defense fund as he faces 11 federal investigations by his agency’s own inspector general, Congress, and others.
The New York Times first reported Pruitt’s plans on Tuesday, citing four people familiar with the fund.
The four individuals involved in setting up the legal fund said Pruitt will operate it privately, meaning the EPA will not be directly involved.
An EPA spokesman told the newspaper that the EPA “does not set up a legal expense fund for any employee.”
Pruitt is being probed for spending taxpayer funds for unnecessarily lavish travel and security expenses. He is facing allegations that he fired or demoted staff who sought to advise him against the travel expenses.
Pruitt is also being investigated by the EPA inspector general for renting a condominium linked to an energy lobbyist at a well-below-market rate of $50 per night.
