A group of Democrats in the House of Representatives sent a letter today to FBI Director Christopher Wray formally requesting a criminal investigation of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Among the offenses cited in the letter, the lawmakers wrote that Pruitt used “both his position and EPA staff” to “attempt to get his wife a Chick-fil-A franchise” and that Pruitt also used his position at the EPA in an effort to get his wife a different job.
The letter was sent by Congressmen Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-MD), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
A Justice Department spokesperson said that the agency was aware of the request to investigate Pruitt but offered no further comment.
Pruitt has faced various controversies during his brief tenure as the agency’s administrator. More recently, for example, the EPA Office of Inspector General will be looking at his use of multiple email accounts and the Government Accountability Office also said that the EPA broke the law when installing a soundproof phone booth in Pruitt’s office.
“At the very least, we know that federal ethics laws bar public officials from using their position or staff for private gain,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “Administrator Pruitt has certainly done just that. Further, his actions related to his wife’s employment and the quid-pro-quo condo situation with industry lobbyists may have crossed a line into criminal conduct punishable by fines or even by time in prison.”
Letter Re: Pruitt Criminal Investigation
