Trump announces resignation of scandal-tainted environment body chief Scott Pruitt
What's the story
US President Donald Trump today announced the departure of his environment-chief, Scott Pruitt, who faced ethics scandals over his spending and conduct in office.
"I have accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency," tweeted the president, ending months of speculation about the future of the man he had tasked with dismantling former president Barack Obama's green legacy.
Own decision
Trump says it was Pruitt's own decision
Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One that there was "no final straw" that led to Pruitt's departure, and that the move was very much up to him.
"He came to me and he said, 'I have such great confidence in the administration. I don't want to be a distraction," said Trump.
He lauded Pruitt, saying the latter had done an outstanding job.
Twitter Post
Pruitt's deputy Andrew Wheeler to take over from Monday
...on Monday assume duties as the acting Administrator of the EPA. I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2018
Allegations
Pruitt had become the focus of many investigations
Pruitt, a former Oklahoma attorney-general reported to have close ties to fossil fuel industries, had become the focus of multiple investigations in recent months.
He appears to have used the position he has held since Feb'17 to enrich his own family's lifestyle in violation of federal laws, while punishing subordinates who raised objections to his behavior, or who failed to show loyalty towards him.
Spending taxpayers' money
Pruitt allegedly spent a lot of taxpayers' money on himself
It all began with a penchant for first-class and private air travel while on official business, a bill footed by the taxpayers.
Then came reports of the large number of bodyguards he kept around him 24 hours a day.
He also ordered the installation of a secure telephone cabin in his Washington office at the cost of $43,000, which critics found excessive.
Personal benefits
Staff was asked to help Pruitt's wife find a job
He rented an apartment linked to oil industry lobbyists in a pricey neighbourhood of Washington for a mere $50 a night.
He also tasked staff members with personal assignments, including finding him apartments, getting tickets to sporting events, and finding his wife a job.
Some tasks were outright bizarre, including a reported order to find a used Trump-brand mattress from a Trump hotel.
Letter
Pruitt mentions pressure from Democrats in his letter
Despite so many complaints, Pruitt was invited to the White House Wednesday for Trump's Independence Day celebration.
Pruitt praised Trump for having "blessed me personally and enabled me to advance your agenda."
Pruitt, however, pointed at the pressure from critics including congressional Democrats.
"The unrelenting attacks on me personally, my family, have taken a sizable toll on all of us," the letter said.
Change in tone
Trump had recently changed his response towards Pruitt
Until now, Trump had stood by Pruitt, who defended his decision to quit the Paris climate accords and praised his work to roll back Obama-era environmental regulations.
But the tone changed in recent weeks. Last month, while praising Pruitt's "fantastic job" at the EPA, Trump admitted, "I'm not happy about certain things, I'll be honest."
Congressional Democrats have called for Pruitt's ouster for months.
Twitter Post
Democrats say "good riddance"
Good riddance.
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) July 5, 2018
Given Pruitt's complete failure to protect our clean air and water, and with 13 open federal investigations into his work, the only question is why this took so long?https://t.co/25Ql58PDPp