Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Phoenix, AZ -- Ryan Zinke had a rough week last week. During his Capitol Hill appearances he lied multiple times, changed his story on offshore drilling, blamed children, veterans, elderly, and the disabled for his park fee rate hike, and made a racially insensitive remark to a Congresswoman. Plus, it was revealed that he uses private email for government business and is seeking out trophy hunters in spite of Trump’s support for a trophy hunting import ban. Zinke is now touring Arizona. During the trip, Zinke has stood by his racially-charged remark, touted support for Trump’s border wall which would disturb public lands Zinke is charged with protecting, praised Trump as a ‘delightful boss,’ and is meeting with the National Mining Association.
Last week, Ryan Zinke’s name was among those rumored to be fired by Donald Trump.
In response, Sierra Club Our Wild America Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:
“After his disastrous week, Ryan Zinke is in the middle of his apology tour to find a way back into Donald Trump’s good graces. He’s pushing Trump’s racist border wall despite the fact that it’d threaten and destroy the very lands Zinke is charged with protecting; he’s doubling down on his racist, ignorant comments; and he’s even meeting with some of Trump’s closest advisers in the National Mining Association. Clearly, Zinke knows that he’s unable to adequately perform the job he’s been charged with, so now it appears he’s turned to appealing to Trump’s worst qualities to save his job.”
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.