Amid Scandals, Scott Pruitt Blacklists Reporters From EPA Announcement

"Reporters from Politico, Buzzfeed, and other outlets noted that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt barred them from his April 3 announcement about loosening automobile fuel economy standards. Pruitt is currently under fire for a slew of scandals and seemingly corrupt activities, including a sweetheart deal he got to rent a D.C. condo from the wife of an energy lobbyist. ...

A CBS reporter who was admitted to the event noted that Pruitt posed with auto industry executives after his announcement but took no questions from members of the press who were let in. ...

The Trump administration has a history of blacklisting reporters. In February of 2017, reporters from The New York Times, CNN, the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed News, and Politico were barred from attending a briefing in then-press secretary Sean Spicer’s office. During the campaign, Trump banned a number of outlets from his events. There are numerous other examples of Trump’s war on the press."

Media Matters had the story April 3, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"How EPA's Scott Pruitt Avoided Tough Questions on Tuesday" (CNN)

"6 tricks Scott Pruitt Uses To Manipulate The Media" (Media Matters)

"How Scott Pruitt's EPA Is Attacking Journalists And Stifling The Media" (Media Matters)

"SEJ Urges EPA Press Office To Answer Reporters' Questions" (Society of Environmental Journalists)

"WatchDog: Sun Doesn’t Shine at Trump Environmental Agencies" (Society of Environmental Journalists)

"SEJ Objects to EPA Treatment of AP Journalist" (Society of Environmental Journalists)

"WatchDog: EPA Press Office Attacks Journalists à la Trump" (Society of Environmental Journalists)