Scott Pruitt admits top aide helped him search for housing but 'on personal time'

[Demovictory9]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/05/16/at-senate-hearing-scott-pruitts-spending-and-ethics-once-again-take-center-stage/?utm_term=.fea8b6400c85

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt acknowledged Wednesday that one of his top aides helped him search for housing last year — a potential violation of federal law — but said she had done so “on personal time.”

The admission came during a Senate budget hearing, which included sharp questions from Democrats about the administrator’s ethics and spending decisions. Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee focused largely on the agency’s policy actions.

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At one point, the lawmaker asked Pruitt to provide details on how he had enlisted aide Millan Hupp to help locate local apartment rentals for him last summer. The Washington Post first reported last month that Hupp, who now serves as EPA’s head of scheduling and advance, contacted a District real estate firm and individual homeowners to view properties. Pruitt’s office boosted Hupp’s salary to $114,590 in March, then reversed the raise after it attracted public scrutiny.

Pruitt, who did not refer to Hupp by name but called her “a longtime friend,” said that when it came to her assistance, “it’s my understanding that all activity there was on personal time.” He added that he did not pay her for this service.

“Then that’s a gift, that’s a violation of federal law,” Udall said, noting that subordinates of federal officials are prohibited from providing free services to their bosses.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/05/16/at-senate-hearing-scott-pruitts-spending-and-ethics-once-again-take-center-stage/?utm_term=.fea8b6400c85

[madaboutharry]

1. Don't Real Estate agents do that?

These people are just stupid.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Yeah, but not for free and

not with fear of losing their job if they don't.

[Frustratedlady]

3. WHY is he still coming to work each day?

He has surely done enough to be fired...at least, as much as we know about. It's pretty obvious he is going to continue on doing whatever he feels like doing, most of which is breaking one ruling or another.

We simply can't afford him. OUT!