House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) on Friday called on Scott Pruitt to resign, saying the Environmental Protection Agency administrator has "displayed a staggering ethical blindness."
Pelosi linked to her statement on Twitter with the hashtag, "#PollutingPruitt."
"EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's tenure has been a part of the Trump administration's culture of corruption, cronyism, and incompetence," Pelosi said in a statement. "Pruitt must resign."
.@EPAScottPruitt's tenure has been a part of the Trump Administration’s culture of corruption, cronyism and incompetence. Pruitt must resign. #PollutingPruitt https://t.co/BMBgJPKkXW pic.twitter.com/xO1hV6xvxB
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 6, 2018
"Pruitt has displayed a staggering ethical blindness, and his abuses of office are representative of an administration that uses their powerful positions to enrich themselves and their friends," Pelosi added. "Multiple members of Trump's Cabinet are under federal investigation for graft, corruption, and sticking taxpayers with the multi-million dollar bill for their extravagance and lavish lifestyles. Republicans in Congress need to end their complicity, and finally take action to hold Pruitt and this administration accountable for their abuses."
Pelosi concluded her statement by saying that the "health of our children" is the price the country pays for the administration's "utter contempt for clean air and clean water."
Pruitt has faced several days of negative press, with reports alleging that he rented a $50-a-night condo room from the wife of an energy lobbyist and has expensive travel and security costs. Other reports said that his top aides from Oklahoma—where Pruitt is from—received large raises, though Pruitt said he was unaware of the raises, and that the EPA chief asked for sirens and lights to speed up his trips around Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump has indicated that he supports Pruitt and does not plan on firing him, tweeting Friday that the EPA chief is "doing a great job" and "under siege."