Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Scott Pruitt’s excuses for spending more than $100,000 in tax dollars on his own luxury flights are falling apart -- and he’s only making things worse for himself. Amid mounting criticism from Republicans, Democrats, and aviation and security experts as well as data which undermines him, Pruitt’s claims on why he needs to spend tax dollars to fly first class are crumbling. Politico reported last night that the “security threat” Pruitt’s staff pointed to as justification for the luxurious waste of tax dollars was someone once shouting that he is “f---ing up the environment.”
If Pruitt is not fired for this abuse of tax dollars that he’s used to hide himself from criticism, the Sierra Club is urging that he at least pay back the exorbitant amounts of taxpayer money he has wasted. After Tom Price was discovered for having used taxpayer dollars for private travel, he was forced to pay the money back, and just this week, VA Secretary David Shulkin was forced to return the $4,000 in tax dollars he spent for personal purposes -- thousands less than what Pruitt has spent on a single trip to Italy where he took pasta-making classes and left a meeting a day early to return home.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Scott Pruitt’s inability to handle criticism is not a reason why he should blow more than $100,000 in our tax dollars on his luxury flights around the world. Anyone in the real world has heard far worse in morning traffic or the bleachers of a baseball game. Everyone from Republican Senators to aviation experts say Pruitt’s excuses don’t fly. He shouldn’t be allowed to hide from the public behind the luxury he’s buying with our tax dollars any longer."
“Scott Pruitt is out of excuses -- it’s time he paid the price and pay back every penny of taxpayer money he’s wasted on his first-class travel habits. Donald Trump fired disgraced former HHS Secretary Tom Price for the same scandalous behavior, and Pruitt should be held to the same standard. ”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.