White House Telling Republicans To Tone Down Pruitt Defenses

Scott Pruitt, EPA Administrator, spoke after President Trump made the statement that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, in the Rose Garden of the White House, On Thursday, June 1, 2017. (Photo by Cheriss May) (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto)
Scott Pruitt, EPA Administrator, spoke after President Trump made the statement that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, in the Rose Garden of the White House, On Thursday, June 1, 2017. (... Scott Pruitt, EPA Administrator, spoke after President Trump made the statement that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, in the Rose Garden of the White House, On Thursday, June 1, 2017. (Photo by Cheriss May) (Photo by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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White House officials are telling Republican lawmakers to soften their defenses of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, who has faced intense scrutiny over his spending habits, two people familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg News.

Pruitt is under fire for renting a room from a lobbyist, taking several first class domestic flights, building a soundproof booth in his office, and other spending decisions. The EPA chief faces several investigations into his actions both in Congress and the executive branch.

Despite Pruitt’s endless stream of scandals, the White House has mostly signaled that they will continue to stand behind Pruitt, with Trump tweeting earlier this month that Pruitt is “doing a great job.” White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that while the White House is reviewing some allegations about Pruitt, but that the President still stands behind him.

However, five Republican lawmakers have now called on Pruitt to resign, and the White House’s message to lawmakers about reeling in their defenses of Pruitt may signal that Trump may eventually relent and ditch his EPA chief.

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