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Zinke has stepped down as Interior Secy. Oil Industry Lobbyist to take his place.
OIL INDUSTRY LOBBYIST.
Pfft.
Link to tweet
JUST IN: Ryan Zinke has stepped down as Interior Secretary.
President Trump has not nominated a replacement, so Zinke’s deputy, David Bernhardt, a lawyer and former oil industry lobbyist, will take over as acting secretary.
President Trump has not nominated a replacement, so Zinke’s deputy, David Bernhardt, a lawyer and former oil industry lobbyist, will take over as acting secretary.
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/02/677390503/the-new-acting-interior-secretary-is-an-agency-insider-and-ex-oil-lobbyist
(the usual RW self-entitled SMIRK):
Ryan Zinke has stepped down as Interior Secretary, resigning as planned amid a series of ethics investigations. In a tweeted out farewell note he says it's been a "high honor" to serve, that the agency has restored public lands, improved public access, and "shall never be held hostage again for our energy needs."
So far the president has not nominated anyone as a permanent replacement. The acting secretary is Zinke's deputy David Bernhardt, a lawyer and former lobbyist for the oil industry with longtime experience at the agency.
"He's thought by many to be the power behind the throne," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of the watchdog group Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility.
Bernhardt is a polarizing figure, loved by industry and assailed by environmental protection groups.
From 2001 to 2009 he held a number of positions at Interior, including Solicitor. When Zinke named him as his Deputy, he cited his extensive agency experience, "his esteemed legal career, and down-right love of our land and resources." Like many previous secretaries, Bernhardt also hails from the west — he's a native of Rifle, Colorado.
In addition to his track record in Washington governance and politics, Bernhardt also has experience in the fossil fuel industry. He worked for a D.C. lobbying firm where E&E News reported that his clients included Cobalt International Energy and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Environmentalists argue it raises ethical questions for someone who worked on behalf of oil and gas companies to then be in charge of managing those resources.
So far the president has not nominated anyone as a permanent replacement. The acting secretary is Zinke's deputy David Bernhardt, a lawyer and former lobbyist for the oil industry with longtime experience at the agency.
"He's thought by many to be the power behind the throne," said Jeff Ruch, executive director of the watchdog group Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility.
Bernhardt is a polarizing figure, loved by industry and assailed by environmental protection groups.
From 2001 to 2009 he held a number of positions at Interior, including Solicitor. When Zinke named him as his Deputy, he cited his extensive agency experience, "his esteemed legal career, and down-right love of our land and resources." Like many previous secretaries, Bernhardt also hails from the west — he's a native of Rifle, Colorado.
In addition to his track record in Washington governance and politics, Bernhardt also has experience in the fossil fuel industry. He worked for a D.C. lobbying firm where E&E News reported that his clients included Cobalt International Energy and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Environmentalists argue it raises ethical questions for someone who worked on behalf of oil and gas companies to then be in charge of managing those resources.
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