Joe Barton (R Texas) described Pruitt as “a victim of

Scott Pruitt Admits He Knew About Controversial EPA Staff Raises

canada goose coats Scott Pruitt, the embattled canadian goose jacket Environmental Protection Agency administrator, admitted Thursday that he signed off on buy canada goose jacket controversial five figure raises for political appointees, contradicting statements he made in a tense Fox News interview earlier this month. canada goose coats

Speaking at the first of two House hearings, Pruitt said gave chief of staff Ryan Jackson the green light to use a special loophole in the Safe Drinking Water Act to boost the salaries of Millan Hupp and Sarah Greenwalt, two of his longtime aides from Oklahoma who now work at EPA, even after the White House rejected the request.

Over the course of the first nearly four hour hearing, the administrator defiantly blamed the media for his mounting ethics scandals. He canada goose clearance repeatedly deflected Democrats’ questions about the lapses and proposals to dramatically Canada Goose Coats On Sale weaken public health regulations, ducking yes or no inquiries with a verbose torrent of legalese.

Canada Goose Parka “I recognize there have been some very troubling media reports over the past few weeks,” Pruitt said in opening remarks repeated at both hearings. “A lie does not become truth canada goose uk outlet just because it uk canada goose appears on the front page of the newspaper.” Canada Goose Parka

canada goose black friday sale Asked about a proposal Canada Goose online to dramatically limit the public uk canada goose outlet health research EPA can use to write regulations, disqualifying the sort Canada Goose Jackets of epidemiological pollution studies that undergird federal air pollution rules, Pruitt deployed Canada Goose Parka canned statements to defend what canada goose black friday sale he called “transparency” measures. Asked if he had buy canada goose jacket cheap anything to say to the families of people cheap canada goose uk who died inhaling the toxic paint stripper cheap Canada Goose methylene chloride, Pruitt said he hadn’t made a decision yet on a ban. Asked about his security guard moonlighting for the tabloid publisher who paid to cover up stories about President Donald Trump’s reported extramarital affairs, Pruitt said he “was not aware of that outside contract, and it’s being Canada Goose Online reviewed.” canada canada goose outlet goose black friday sale

canada goose clearance Republicans https://www.canadagoosestorevip.com at the first hearing were swift to defend the administrator. canada goose clearance

“I apologize for the abrasiveness of some of my colleagues who would rather tarnish your reputation than address the problems facing the nation,” said Rep.

Canada Goose Jackets “I hope that we can stay on policy and talk canada goose uk shop about some of the progress that’s been made,” McKinley said, “because I think that it’s been good for the environment.” Canada Goose Jackets

Canada Goose sale Rep. Bill canada goose store Johnson (R Ohio) dismissed questions into Pruitt’s mounting canada goose coats on sale ethics scandals as “a personal attack” and “a shameful attempt to denigrate the work that’s being done at the EPA.” Canada Goose sale

canada goose deals Rep. Joe Barton (R Texas) described Pruitt as “a victim of. Washington politics.” He lauded Pruitt’s efforts against “radical clean air policies,” and pointed out thatthe administrator’s penchant for first class flights “may look bad,” but “it’s not illegal.” The EPA chief hadn’t done anything like renting “a party jet,” he noted. canada goose deals

Rep. Kathy Castor (D Fla.) criticized Republicans for refusing to take the committee’s oversight duties seriously.

canadian goose jacket “It’s embarrassing,” she said. canadian goose jacket

In a stunning rebuke of his critics, Pruitt made no direct mention of the growing heap of corruption accusations against him in his prepared testimony, and againcast blame on his staff for the whirlwind of ethical lapses that triggered 10 federal investigations over the past month.

Canada Goose Outlet “I am not afraid to admit there’s been a learning process,” Pruitt said in an unscripted comment during his opening remarks. Canada Goose Outlet

Pruitt has faced criticism for months over his spending on first class flights, seemingly in violation of federal rules, which he justified as a safety measure to avoid passengers in coach who might accost the administrator over his controversial deregulatory agenda.

canada goose clearance sale But, in late March, details emerged about a $50 a night luxury Capitol Hill condo Pruitt rented from an energy lobbyist with business before the EPA. That scandal quickly cascaded into more than two dozen more as new reports revealed shady real estate deals in Oklahoma, use of multiple email accounts, and a tyrannical management style in which EPA staffers who questioned Pruitt’s actions were fired or pushed out. canada goose clearance sale

canada goose A New York Times story published April 5, detailing how five EPA employees were sidelined after raising concerns about Pruitt’s spending, became a flashpoint at the first hearing. canada goose

Canada Goose online Asked canada goose clearance sale about the article by Rep. Canada Goose online

cheap Canada Goose “I don’t ever recall a conversation to that end,” Pruitt said. cheap Canada Goose

Pallone responded: Canada Goose sale “I’ll take that as a yes.”

buy canada goose jacket A lie does not become truth just because it appears on the front page of the newspaper. buy canada goose jacket

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“You shouldn’t take that as a yes,” Pruitt said.

Despite regaling what he called a “bloodsport” of going after any Republican who supports the president, Rep. Gregg Harper (R Miss.) asked later in the hearing how the EPA investigated allegations such as those made in the Times story.

“There’s no truth to the assertion,” Pruitt said. “I’m not aware of that ever happening.”

The EPA’s notoriously hostile press office cast doubt over many of the reports, suggesting political motivations. But, earlier this month, a former top staffer to Pruitt, who described himself as a lifelong Republican and former Trump aide, detailed “unethical and potentially illegal” activities to top Democrats leading an investigation. Four days later, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office issued a report finding EPA spending on a $43,000 soundproof phone booth for Pruitt broke the law.