Zinke Smears Dem Rep. Grijalva As A Drunk After Critical Op-Ed

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly restored Lockkeeper's House on the National Mall October 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Built over 1... WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly restored Lockkeeper's House on the National Mall October 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Built over 180 years ago and restored by the Trust for the National Mall, the Lockkeeper’s House is 'the oldest structure on the National Mall' and will now welcome Washington visitors as a gateway to the mall. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke responded to Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva’s (D-AZ) op-ed calling for him to resign by accusing the congressman of living at the “bottom of the bottle.”

Grijalva’s office did not immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment.

Grijalva, currently ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, wrote an op-ed published in USA Today Friday calling on Zinke to resign for his many ethical missteps, resulting in 17 investigations. Grijalva also promised heightened scrutiny of this behavior, should he become chairman of the committee when Democrats take control of the House in January.

The congressman took issue too with Zinke’s policy leadership, accusing him of “dumbing down” science to retain President Donald Trump’s loyalty.

Zinke’s scorching rebuttal dates back to last November, when Grijalva paid a staffer a severance package worth $48,395 when she threatened to sue the congressman over his alleged drinking at work and creating a hostile work environment. Grijalva has denied the claims.

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Notable Replies

  1. Aww, Zinkerino, you’re really not gonna like the supoenas coming your way starting January 2.

  2. And that coming from a man who has to look up to see the bottom of the barrel.

  3. Leaving aside all questions of accuracy and appropriateness, nothing in Zinke’s response in any way rebuts or disproves even one iota of Grijalva’s OpEd.

  4. I have a feeling a lot of folks are going to be chasing the Secretary of the Posterior.

  5. The High Plains Grifter Stinky Zinke: Lock. Him. Up.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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