Interior Nominee, Set For Confirmation Vote Today, Accused Of Conflict

"David Bernhardt, President Trump’s nominee for deputy interior secretary, has been described as 'an excellent choice' by supporters and 'a walking conflict of interest' by opponents. The full Senate is set to vote on his nomination Monday.

Bernhardt wouldn’t be new to the Interior Department. He served under President George W. Bush as solicitor, the third-ranking position at the department, and as a legal officer. But more recently, he worked for a lobbying firm representing energy interests and a water district.

That role has led to controversy. A nonprofit group, Campaign for Accountability, claims that Bernhardt continued to lobby for the Westlands Water District in California after withdrawing his registration as a lobbyist in November. In a letter to the Justice Department asking it to investigate the claim, the group claims Bernhardt edited a draft executive order for then-President-elect Donald Trump involving water issues that stood to benefit Westlands Water."

Darryl Fears reports for the Washington Post July 21, 2017.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/07/21/int...