Republican Rep. Joe Barton on Thursday defended Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt’s lavish travel budget because it didn’t entail “party jets” used by rock stars.
“Have you ever rented a party jet?” Barton, R-Texas, asked the embattled EPA chief.
“No, congressman,” Pruitt said with a smirk.
“That’s good,” Barton said.
Barton explained that an “energy secretary named Hazel O’Leary under the Clinton administration, she leased party jets that were used by rock stars. Not one time but several times.”
Barton is chairman emeritus of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which launched into hearing Thursday morning that quickly became about Pruitt’s travel expenses, renting a condo linked to an energy lobbyist, and firing staff who disagreed with his spending decisions.
“You’ve been attacked for flying first class, is that illegal?” Barton asked.
“It is not,” Pruitt said.
“It may look bad, but its not illegal,” Barton said.
