How Scott Pruitt Plans to Defend Himself on Capitol Hill: Spread the Blame

"WASHINGTON — As Scott Pruitt, the embattled head of the Environmental Protection Agency, prepares to testify before Congress on Thursday amid a series of spending and ethics investigations, an internal E.P.A. document indicates that he may blame his staff for many of the decisions that have put a cloud over his tenure at the agency.

The document, known as the “hot topics” list, appears to lay out talking points for Mr. Pruitt’s two sessions before the House of Representatives. It suggests that Mr. Pruitt is prepared to say that he now flies coach when traveling; that others were responsible for giving two close aides who used to work for him in Oklahoma substantial pay raises; and that E.P.A. officials who were reassigned or demoted after challenging his spending all had performance issues.

The document, which The New York Times has reviewed and the veracity of which the E.P.A. did not dispute, seemed to be a work in progress. Mr. Pruitt’s responses may change on Thursday when he appears before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee in the morning, and a House Appropriations Committee panel in the afternoon."

Lisa Friedman and Coral Davenport report for the New York Times April 25, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"Scott Pruitt Heads To Capitol Hill As White House Probes Signal His Shaky Status" (Washington Post)

"White House Aides Wouldn’t All Mind if Pruitt Bombs Before Congress" (Daily Beast)

"Make-Or-Break Moment for EPA Chief Pruitt" (The Hill)

"GOP Lawmaker Wants 'Contrition' From Pruitt" (The Hill)

"White House: We Expect Pruitt To Provide Answers On Ethics Controversies" (The Hill)

"Facing Congress, EPA Chief Doesn’t Appear Ready To Apologize" (AP)

"Support For Pruitt Wanes As He Takes The Hot Seat On Capitol Hill" (NBC News)

"EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Prepares For Questions On Ethics Allegations" (NPR)

"'It Could Be Pretty Painful' When Pruitt Faces Congress" (Politico)

"Pruitt Declined White House Offer To Help Prep For Marathon Day Of Congressional Questions" (ABC News)

"Pruitt Skirts Ethics Woes In Written Remarks For Hearing" (Greenwire)

"West Wing Is Investigating Pruitt. But It Won't Say Why" (ClimateWire)

"Scott Pruitt's Prep Document Of 'Hot Topics' Ready Ahead Of Congressional Hearings" (ABC News)

"Scott Pruitt Heads To Capitol Hill For A Moment Of Truth" (Vox)

House Energy Subcommittee hearing scheduled to begin at 10 am ET with livestream webcast at https://energycommerce.house.gov/hearings/the-fiscal-year-2019-environme... (May also be on C-SPAN.)

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment hearing scheduled to begin at 2 pm ET with livestream webcast available at https://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=395262 (May also be on C-SPAN.)