He’s gone. But he should not be forgotten.
Ever since his first foray into personal nest building at taxpayers’ expense, it was just a matter of time. But who knew it would take so long with so much damage being done – and tolerated – along the way.
And trusting his boss would not fire him, Pruitt continued to exceed himself in ways that still are being fully investigated. So now that he’s gone, read this as a eulogy to a swamp creature extraordinaire. That he lasted as long as he did is a testament to his boss – how to use a real stinker to your best advantage even though the object of your affection is screwing the taxpayer.
Pruitt must have been out to break the record for graft and scams. Let us count the ways:
- He had a soundproof phone booth built to use in his office. There is a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility in the building, but apparently that was a few steps and an elevator ride too far. Cost to you: $44,000.
- He paid $1,500 in taxpayer money for 12 fountain pens and another $1,500 for journals. Amazon offers personalized pens (not Montblancs mind you, but still perfectly functional) under $50 per dozen. Same for journals. Might be a good way for staff to keep track of his graft. Cost to you: $3,000.
- He insisted on flying first-class, arguing that it was easier for his over-the-top 24-hour security detail to guard him. And there was the additional advantage of being away from those rowdy unkempt economy coach travelers who, by the way, pay his salary. Cost to you for flights: $105,000 (first year only). Cost to you for the unprecedented security detail: $3 million, thus far.
- He attempted to lease a private jet for his travels instead. That would have cost you $100,000 per month had advisers not objected and blown the whistle.
- Pruitt spent his first six months in D.C. in a condo owned by a lobbyist and his wife while paying just $50 per night. Can you say quid pro quo? Yes. At about this same time, the EPA approved a pipeline expansion for an energy company connected to the lobbyist’s firm.
- Against White House admonition, he gave massive raises to two of his staffers, yet denied knowing anything about it. Turned out he gave his personal stamp of approval, as documented by internal emails. One got a raise of almost $56,000 – just short of the median household income in America. She (yes, it’s a she) must be very, very good.
- He hired a good buddy to monitor environmental clean-up at Superfund sites. Unfortunately, that pal had just been banned from the banking industry for life and was looking for a job. Also, unfortunately, he had zero relevant experience to do the job at the EPA.
- Staff whistle-blowers stopped him from purchasing two bulletproof desks for his office. Had that gone through, the cost to you would have been $70,000. When aides expressed concerns about his spending, he demoted or reassigned them.
- He used a full motorcade with sirens blaring to go to a French restaurant in D.C. The escargot must have been magnificent. Cost to you: A lot.
- He used his staff to run personal errands, such as finding him a specific lotion sold by The Ritz (which features “sweet notes of ylang ylang, jasmine and uplifting bergamot”), searching for a used (?) mattress from a Trump hotel and hunting down specific luncheon items to match his elegant culinary tastes. Cost to you: untold thousands of dollars in wasted staff time.
- He installed biometric locks on his doors and ordered a bug sweep. Cost to you: $9,000.
- He attempted to get his wife a restaurant franchise by working through relatives of his employees.
- He purchased “tactical pants.” Reason unknown. Would be fun to guess. Cost to you: $1,500. Sounds like a perfect lead-in for a “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” episode for the NPR radio show.
- He allowed a foreign agent and longtime friend to plan a trip to Morocco at government expense for a purpose unrelated to the EPA. Cost to you: $100,000.
There also are alleged actions still being investigated, which include making travel decisions based on his interest in visiting certain countries or cities, then asking staff to provide something for him to do while there to justify taxpayer funding.
He also allegedly directed staff to find reasons for him to return to Oklahoma at taxpayer expense on long weekends to supposedly lay the groundwork to run for office. Seriously? And there are allegations of scrubbing his appointment schedule, apparently to hide his activities or lack thereof.
So the question is, why did he last so long? Because, unlike Tom Price, who was fired over excessive use of (just) first-class flights, Trump liked Pruitt. “He’s doing a great job. He’s being viciously attacked.”
Pruitt was/is the subject of more than a dozen ongoing ethics investigations, but ethics and wasting taxpayer dollars apparently are not a huge concern to his boss, who sells his own access for $200,000 annually. And he did as requested, getting rid of those pesky clean air and water regulations and environmental protections enacted by the-you-know-who administration.
There were even rumors that Pruitt was maneuvering to take Jeff Session’s place as attorney general should Trump decide to metaphorically pull that trigger.
Scott Pruitt appears to be the least politically aware politician ever. He either didn’t learn from his mistakes or he didn’t care. There are no other explanations.
One of the many mantras of Trump’s campaign rallies was the unison robotic response of DRAIN THE SWAMP! The fact that Pruitt stayed in his job as long as he did, in spite of egregious misuse of power, speaks volumes about the person who continued to support him – until he had no choice.
So I guess their synchronized swimming program, taking place in that swampy cesspool they share with so many others, may have to be canceled. Oops…perhaps not. Based on early information, Pruitt’s replacement has been practicing all the moves and is ready to jump in. He plans on adding coal ash to the existing muck.
Marsha Shearer is a Villager and a frequent contributor to Villages-News.com.
