The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 33 ongoing threat investigations as of mid-March out of which 10 involve Administrator Scott Pruitt, who justified his use of first-class travel and heightened security as result of safety concerns.
According to The New York Times, the agency received 16 threats in 2017 that were targeted at Pruitt. The Times also published the EPA’s response to a Freedom of Information Act request about the threats against Pruitt that show Pruitt did not receive a much higher number of threats than his predecessors.
The total number of threat investigations by the agency has fluctuated from 47 in the fiscal year 2015 to 43 in 2016 to 50 in 2017, most of which was during the Trump administration. Out of those, 16 were aimed at Pruitt, three were aimed at his predecessor, Gina McCarthy, one was targeted at both individuals, and 30 were intended for other employees or officials.
The EPA documents show that the agency’s inspector general has investigated 14 threats made against Pruitt and his family, five of which are redacted, while most of the threats did not result in charges. One of the threats came in a postcard urging Pruitt to “Get out while you still can, Scott, you are evil to incarnate you ignorant f—.”
Another threat was sent to Senator James Lankford’s email threatening to assassinate Pruitt, President Donald Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence.
Pruitt is under heavy criticism from Democrats because of ethics controversies. Reports revealed that Pruitt spent millions of dollars’ worth of travel and security expenses, including allegedly bringing his detail to Disneyland and the Rose Bowl.
He was also criticized for renting a Capitol Hill condominium from the wife of an energy lobbyist for $50 each day he stayed there, as well as renovating his office with a $43,000 soundproof booth.
The majority of Democrats have called for Pruitt’s resignation, but Trump and some Republicans defend Pruitt praising him for cutting regulations.
Be the first to comment