John Kelly Reportedly Told Trump Last Week EPA Chief Pruitt Needed to Resign — Before The Avalanche of Scandals
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly reportedly suggested President Donald Trump fire the embattled chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt — a week before another series of scandals undermined the Cabinet appointee’s tenure at the head of the federal agency.
Kelly told Trump last week the EPA chief needed to “step down” after controversial reports emerged surrounding his cheap living situation in Washington — thanks to the wife of a top energy lobbyist — and his generous treatment of employees working at the agency, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
But Trump just wasn’t ready to let go of Pruitt.
Via WSJ:
Though Mr. Kelly and other White House aides have concluded Mr. Pruitt should leave, the president is not ready to fire him, the official said. Mr. Trump welcomes the deregulatory measures taken by Mr. Pruitt and also values him as a strong advocate for the president’s agenda, this person said.
Other reports throughout the week also support the claim that Trump is rather fond of the actions Pruitt has taken as head of the EPA. He even suggested replacing Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Pruitt this week, CNN reported Thursday afternoon.
As several Twitter users noted, there appears to be internal turmoil at the White House over Pruitt’s fate. “At first glance this leak appears to be a self-inflicted wound,” one user wrote, referring to the Wall Street Journal’s reporting. “It undercuts both Trump and Kelly. If there’s a strategy here, it seems to be to encourage Pruitt to resign to spare the administration more unnecessary drama and intrigue.”
While Trump has been seemingly discussing with top White House officials whether to keep Pruitt in his position, the EPA chief has faced a mire of controversies that show no signs of letting up.
After it was discovered he reportedly paid just $50 a night to stay in a lavish apartment in D.C. owned in part by a lobbyist’s wife, it was later revealed he urged his security detail to use its sirens while traveling throughout the capital.
Pruitt, often late to his appointments throughout the day, reportedly encouraged his motorcade to employ its lights and alarm while bringing him from place to place, including dinner at a ritzy French restaurant called Le Diplomate.
He’s also attempted to provide pay raises to officials at the EPA who he shares close relationships with, and has sidelined others who questioned his spending and management of the agency, the New York Times reported Thursday.
