The ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., is urging Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to call on Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and his top aides to testify next week in response to a series of allegations regarding Pruitt’s behavior.
The embattled Cabinet secretary is facing numerous unflattering reports related to his travel on first-class flights, his living arrangement, and use of his EPA-funded security detail.
Amid the controversy stemming from reports that Pruitt rented a condo co-owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist for a rate of $50 a night — a number significantly under the market rate — the New York Times reported Thursday that at least five officials from the agency were demoted, requested new jobs, or were moved to other jobs after they addressed concerns regarding Pruitt’s leadership.
“In light of a string of very troubling new allegations, I request that the Oversight Committee hold a hearing next week with sworn testimony from Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and his aides,” Cummings wrote to Gowdy on Thursday.
“Based on the events of the past week, it appears that the leadership at EPA is coming apart at the seams,” he added. “It is our responsibility on the Oversight Committee to conduct credible, robust oversight in a timely manner that protects the interests of the American taxpayers.”
Prior reports said Pruitt spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on first-class travel to conduct government business. The committee sent Pruitt a letter in February asking for documents concerning each flight he had taken last year and information for those who traveled with him when flying first of business class.
The EPA provided documents of Pruitt’s tip from March 2017 and February 2018, but did not provide information regarding those who accompanied Pruitt.
“As a result, the Committee has been prevented from determining the full cost of these trips to U.S. taxpayers,” Cummings letter reads.
Cummings also requested that the committee subpoena the EPA to produce all the documents originally requested in February. The letter said the EPA should be required to respond by April 19.
