GOP Senate chairman backs Pruitt as ethics probes expand
WASHINGTON — The Republican chairman of the Senate Environment Committee voiced support Monday for Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, even as other Republicans expressed concern about Pruitt's ethics and spending on security and travel.
Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said Pruitt has accomplished key priorities as EPA head, mainly in reversing "punishing regulations" imposed under President Barack Obama. Barrasso said he saw the positive impact of Pruitt's actions late last month as he and Pruitt toured a Wyoming coal mine.
Barrasso acknowledged that "certain questions have been raised about internal operations" at EPA and Pruitt's actions, but said he will wait for a White House review before reaching a judgment.
Three Republican senators criticized Pruitt on Sunday amid expanded ethics investigations of his spending and possible perks he's received.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., called Pruitt's behavior stupid and "juvenile" and urged him to "stop acting like a chucklehead, stop the unforced errors, stop leading with your chin. If you don't need to fly first class, don't. Don't turn on the siren on your SUV just to watch people move over. You represent the president of the United States."
"Ethics matter. Impropriety matters. The appearance of impropriety matters," Kennedy told CBS' "Face the Nation," adding that Pruitt's actions were "distracting from the business that we're trying to do for the American people."
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