The Interior Department’s inspector general is in the beginning stages of assessing complaints that Secretary Ryan Zinke may have violated ethics rules in a major real estate deal, but no formal investigation is currently underway, according the inspector general’s office.
“No investigation is currently open,” Nancy DiPaolo, spokeswoman for the Office of the Inspector General, said in an email to the Washington Examiner.
She explained that the office is conducting a preliminary review arising from reports of Zinke’s involvement in the deal.
“On June 20th, the OIG opened a complaint into purported business activities by the secretary,” DiPaolo said. “A preliminary review is underway.”
The review will help decide whether an investigation is warranted, and if it is in the jurisdiction of the inspector’s office to do so, DiPaolo explained.
Some environmental groups issued statements Thursday that said the inspector general has announced it would open an investigation into Zinke.
“Department of Interior’s inspector general today announced their office would open an investigation into a shady real estate deal involving Secretary Ryan Zinke and David Lesar, the chairman of Halliburton,” the group Friends of the Earth said in a press release.
The review was initiated one day ahead of a letter sent by House Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee asking the inspector general to open an investigation into Zinke’s “apparent use of official resources for personal financial gain.”
Politico reported last week that a foundation created by Zinke and managed by his wife Lola is involved in a real estate project that includes Lesar.
The Interior Department has presented documents to the Washington Examiner showing Zinke resigned from the foundation once confirmed as secretary. But Democrats said documents they obtained showed things differently.
The House members showed Zinke had met with Lesar, Lesar’s son, and real estate developer Casey Malmquist at his office, months after becoming secretary, suggesting it is indicative of his involvement in the land deal.
