"Watchdog: EPA’s Pruitt Demanded 24/7 Armed Security on Day 1"

"WASHINGTON — An internal watchdog at the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that Administrator Scott Pruitt demanded and received unprecedented, around-the-clock protection from armed officers on his first day — a detail that appears at odds with past claims that the stepped-up security measures came in direct response to death threats.

EPA Inspector General Arthur Elkins said in letters to Democratic senators that Pruitt himself initiated the 24-hour-a day protection, which far exceeds the part-time security afforded to past EPA administrators.

Elkins’ letter comes after Pruitt cited an August 2017 report by a staffer in the inspector general’s office detailing more than a dozen investigations of threats against him and his Obama administration predecessor as justification for stepped-up security measures, which has included flying first class on commercial airliners."

Michael Biesecker reports for the Associated Press May 14, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"Scott Pruitt Requested, Received 24/7 Security Starting On His First Day At EPA, At Trump Appointee’s Request" (Washington Post)

"Pruitt Sought 24-7 Security From First Day, EPA Watchdog Says" (Politico)