EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt told senators at a hearing Wednesday morning that he does not remember ordering his motorcade to use lights and sirens to cut through Washington, D.C.’s notorious traffic in non-emergency situations — such as a visit to the tony French restaurant Le Diplomate.
In response, the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) submitted for the public record an email from Pruitt’s former security chief Pasquale “Nino” Perrotta in February that states clearly that Pruitt “encourages the use” of lights and sirens.
On Wednesday, Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) wrote to the Inspector General’s office at the EPA asking for yet another investigation into the sirens and other unusual security measures, noting that the agency has ignored their requests for information. They cited an anonymous complaint that reached them regarding Perotta and Pruitt, and urged the IG to investigate even though Perotta has since quit the EPA.
Read the full letter below: