Energy

An Energy Lobbyist Tried To Get Scott Pruitt To Hire A Friend. Pruitt Turned Him Down

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Tim Pearce Energy Reporter
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Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt turned down a potential hire suggested by the husband of his former landlord, The Washington Post reported.

Along with his wife, former lobbyist Steven Hart rented out a bedroom to Pruitt for the months beginning his tenure at the EPA. The deal was criticized as evidence of possible collusion between industry lobbyists and the EPA administrator. Some of Pruitt’s loudest critics called his apartment agreement “corrupt.” (RELATED: ‘Toxic’: Scott Pruitt Nukes DC Insiders For Making A Big To-Do Over His Condo Stay)

Hart and his wife emailed Pruitt’s chief of staff Ryan Jackson about finding a place for Jimmy Guilliano, a recent college graduate and friend of the Harts, a place to work at the EPA. Hart asked for a position for Guilliano near Jackson.

“I seldom talk to Scott but Vicki does,” Hart told Jackson in an email on April 14, 2017, according to WaPo. “She has talked to Scott about this kid who is important to us. He told Vicki to talk to you about how to handle this. I am not sure personally that this is a good idea for Jimmy unless he is working near you. Sticking him down in the bowels is death at EPA. His family is all Naval Academy by the way.”

The Sierra Club, an environmental group, obtained the email as part of a batch released under a Freedom of Information Act request.

The EPA did not hire Guilliano, EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told WaPo.

“I never received any special treatment from Administrator Pruitt or had any undue influence over the Environmental Protection Agency. Ryan Jackson is an old friend whom I have known for many years prior to his service with the EPA,” Hart told WaPo in a statement. “We have discussed numerous issues and topics during his tenure as chief of staff, but he has never performed a special favor on my behalf.”

Along with apartment rental, a slew of alleged scandals has dogged Pruitt in the media. First-class flights with taxpayer money, substantial raises to aides and a $43,000 telephone booth installation are among the events that have followed the EPA administrator. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Scott Pruitt’s Head Bodyguard Takes On The ‘False Dirty Laundry’ Being Spread About EPA [VIDEO])

Many on the right have come to Pruitt’s defense, however, amid the media firestorm that has circled him for months. Conservative radio hosts Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh have gone to bat for Pruitt on their respective shows.

GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma set aside doubts about Pruitt’s conduct after having a one-on-one meeting with the EPA administrator. Inhofe placed blame for the leaks and scandals surrounding Pruitt on environmental groups and disgruntled EPA employees.

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