EPA says Pruitt's condo lease didn't violate ethics rules
Source: Associated Press
By MICHAEL BIESECKER
1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) An agency ethics official at the Environmental Protection Agency says Administrator Scott Pruitts lease of a Capitol Hill condo tied to a prominent fossil-fuels lobbyist didnt violate federal ethics rules.
A memo signed by Kevin Minoli contends that Pruitts $50-a-night rental payments constitute a fair market rate. The memo was dated March 30, the day after ABC News first reported Pruitt lived last year in condo co-owned by the wife of Steven Hart, a registered lobbyist whose firm pushed EPA to relax pollution regulations. Pruitts college-aged daughter stayed in the second bedroom while interning at the White House last summer.
Minolis memo says the $50-a-night rate would total $1,500 for 30 nights a month, which he deemed to be a fair price.
Pruitts lease, however, required him to pay just for nights he occupied in the unit. Pruitt actually paid a total of $6,100 over the six month period he leased the property, an average of about $1,000 a month.
Read more: https://www.apnews.com/d0cd6b83443245af8391c1232766b5c1/EPA-says-Pruitt%27s-condo-lease-didn%27t-violate-ethics-rules
MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)if Pruitt's own guy says it's OK, that settles that! (guess the guy gets to keep his job!)
bottomofthehill
(8,344 posts)is that not also a benefit to him? I would love to rent that place from them for $1500 a month, I would get a roommate and charge him or her $1500 a month and then live for free in the other room.
bottomofthehill
(8,344 posts)I live by Eastern High school in a 1 bedroom apartment that is almost 600 squ feet and pay $1860 a month. It is a new building but still about 16 blocks further from the Capitol. I think the 2 bedrooms in my building START at $2600 per month and go to about $3500 or more. There are other fees that are additional
csziggy
(34,137 posts)She gets about $4-5000 a month for it now that she is leasing it while she works out of the country. She bought it when she was a congressional intern and my sister questioned whether or not it was a good investment. She's already paid off a significant part of the mortgage and will soon own it free and clear.
bottomofthehill
(8,344 posts)In the late 80s through the early 2000 the stadium area was a dangerous neighborhood due to the open air drug trade in the area. Now the biggest problem is finding parking
csziggy
(34,137 posts)She never had to take a bus, metro, or cab to work while she was in Washington - just sometimes to events and meetings. She hasn't owned a car in ten years. When she comes back to the States, she rents.
keithbvadu2
(36,881 posts)mpcamb
(2,875 posts)That,not the price of the apt, is the issue,
Tit for tat.
The guy is a high roller who deals with Pruitt's Agency.
Therein lies the violation.
Government ethics used to avoid even the appearance of malfeasance.
trump's people spit at ethics.