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GOP senator: Pruitt is ‘the wrong person’ to lead EPA

Posted at 2:35 PM, Apr 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-08 14:35:49-04

Republican Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, is calling embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt “the wrong person” to head the agency “on policy grounds alone.”

Collins voted against Pruitt’s confirmation, and said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that his actions on the environment, “whether it’s trying to undermine the Clean Power Plan or weaken the restrictions on lead or undermine the methane rules,” validate her decision.

Pruitt has come under fire for a string of ethically questionable actions over the past year, including renewed questions over the amount he is spending on his large security detailand over his travel and housing arrangements.

“This daily drop of accusations of excessive spending and ethical violations serve to further distract the agency from accomplishing its very important mission,” Collins said. “I think Congress needs to do some oversight.”

When CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Collins if Pruitt should resign or be fired, the Republican senator said that is a position “only the President can take at this point,” adding that “the Congress has no role” now that Pruitt has been confirmed.

Trump so far has stood byhis embattled EPA chief, tweeting late Saturday, “Scott is doing a great job!”