Trump's Energy And Environmental Policies Are Clouded By Pruitt's Ethics Allegations
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s ethical dilemmas have pushed watchdog agencies to investigate his actions while members of his own party have called for his removal. But while Pruitt may have moral shortcomings, the central question is whether such workplace mores are established by the U.S. president.
Donald Trump has always touted his private sector dealings as evidence of why he would be a good national steward. But successful organizations have always stood by their stakeholders — and their communities in particular. That moral compass is set by applying codes of conduct and then working to ensure that proper standards are maintained within a given entity and beyond its borders.
“The American public needs to have confidence that ethics violations, as well as the appearance of ethics of ethics violations, are investigated and properly addressed,” David Apol, acting directing and general counsel for the U.S. Office on Government Ethics wrote to EPA’s inspector general. “The efficacy of, and the public trust in, our government depends on it.”
The allegations against Pruitt are adding up: A D.C. condo-rental from someone lobbying his agency; using government employees to run personal errands and to find family members jobs; leveraging his position to get sporting tickets and, flying first class all over the world. Meanwhile, the Government Accountability Office concluded that Pruitt’s installation of a soundproof phone booth in his office violated the Antideficiency Act. The list goes on.
The context here, of course, is that previous cabinet members have been forced to resign for fewer indiscretions. But the more fundamental picture is whether the president’s own behavior has given implicit permission to embark on such self-dealing: The Trump Foundation, for example, is now alleged to have misdirected monies donated to it to resolve the president’s own legal entanglements, as well as to help finance his presidential campaign. Then there was the $25 million settlement to those who were duped by Trump University. That list also goes on.
More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2018/06/18/trumps-energy-and-environmental-policies-are-clouded-by-pruitts-ethics-allegations/#1e0093067578
Demonstrators hold up signs as Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) chief Scott Pruitt testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee after ethics scandals April 26, 2018 on Capitol Hill in washington,DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
