Senate Democrat Claims Pruitt Admits House-Hunting Broke Federal Law

摘要

Senate Democrats used a May 16 EPA budget hearing to renew their attacks on Administrator Scott Pruitt's many ethics and spending scandals, with Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) claiming that one of Pruitt's answers to his questions effectively admits that he broke federal law by having a top aide house-hunt for him outside of agency work hours. During the hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee's panel on interior and environment, Udall, ranking member on the subcommittee, questioned Pruitt on reports that he had a top aide help him find a new residence in Washington, D.C., after ending his lease at a condo owned by a couple who work in lobbying. The condo itself is one of the many scandals plaguing Pruitt's tenure. Pruitt denied that he had aide Millan Hupp setting up house tours or contact realtors while on the agency clock, saying instead that "the individual you're referring to is a longtime friend of my wife and myself." Udall countered that for a subordinate to assist her boss outside of work without pay is also a violation of personnel policies. "Regulations prohibit directing a subordinate to do personal work for you, and if they volunteer that is a gift - services must be paid for at fair market value. So it doesn't cut it that they're a friend or that kind of thing. Did you pay them at the time for doing that work?" Udall asked.