"The Interior Department’s internal watchdog referred its investigation of Secretary Ryan Zinke to the Department of Justice (DOJ) more than two weeks ago, just days before it was announced that Interior would be getting a Trump political appointee to replace its acting inspector general, two sources confirmed to The Hill.
Ben Carson, head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), told his staff on Oct. 12 that Suzanne Tufts would be leaving HUD to replace Interior's longtime acting inspector general (IG), Mary Kendall — after the watchdog referred its probe to the Justice Department, according to two government sources with knowledge of the timeline.
One source described the timing as "incredibly circumspect" and raised questions about whether the plan to have Tufts fill a position traditionally occupied by a career staffer was in reaction to the investigation that was referred to the DOJ."
Miranda Green reports for The Hill October 31, 2018.
SEE ALSO:
"Zinke Could Face Months-Long Justice Investigation" (The Hill)
"A Guide to the Ryan Zinke Investigations" (New York Times)
"Inquiry Into Ryan Zinke Land Deal Is Said to Escalate" (New York Times)
"Zinke’s Heir Apparent Ready To Step In" (Politico)
"Ryan Zinke, Trump’s Interior Secretary, Faces Increased Ethics Scrutiny" (New York Times)
Opinion: "Ryan Zinke and the Murky Interior of Trumpworld" (Bloomberg)
"Ryan Zinke’s War on the Interior" (Rolling Stone: 7/18/18)
"The Damage Done by Trump’s Department of the Interior" (New Yorker: 1/22/18)
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