Under fire over reports that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt took several first class flights using taxpayer money, the agency defended the flights on Tuesday by claiming that Pruitt had a “blanket waiver” to fly first class for security reasons, only to walk back that claim the next day.
Several reports this week revealed that Pruitt flew first class on flights from Washington, D.C. to Boston and Washington, D.C. to New York, as well as on an Emirates flight from Milan, Italy, to Washington, D.C. Pruitt said on Tuesday that he felt he had to fly first class due to the “level of threat” he faces on planes. EPA Spokesman Jahan Wilcox also said Tuesday that Pruitt had a “blanket waiver” to do so.
However, when Politico pointed out that rules prohibit blanket waivers, Wilcox changed his statement and said that the EPA submits waivers each time Pruitt needs one.
“As such, for every trip Administrator Pruitt submits a waiver to fly in either first or business class,” Wilcox said in a statement to Politico.
Hmm… the departure board at the White House is going to be fully lit in the next few days.
This f’er belongs in steerage.
When the EPA chief is afraid to sit next to ordinary Americans, something has gone seriously wrong.
I wondered who EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox was, turns out he was at RNC in 2014, according to Red State:
I thought he might be inexperienced, but no. He should check his facts though before shooting off about stuff.
♫ The Pruitts of Southampton
Just like the richest folk
But what the folks don’t know
Is that the Pruitts are flat broke ♫