"The Interior Department’s inspector general has opened an investigative complaint regarding Secretary Ryan Zinke’s involvement in a Montana land development deal backed by the chairman of the oil services firm Halliburton, according to a letter sent to three Democratic lawmakers.
In the letter sent to Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (Ariz.), A. Donald McEachin (Va.) and Jared Huffman (Calif.) on Wednesday, Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary L. Kendall said that her office will examine Zinke’s “reported ongoing involvement in and use of taxpayer resources to advance land developments in Whitefish, Montana.” Last week, Politico reported that Zinke has continued to be involved in discussions over the development of land near his hometown that is backed by David J. Lesar, Halliburton’s chairman.
The oil services giant’s operations are directly affected by many of the Interior Department’s policies, including regulations on how oil and gas drilling must be conducted, and which public lands and federal waters are open to exploration and development."
Juliet Eilperin and Dino Grandoni report for the Washington Post June 28, 2018.
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