Legal Complaint: Pruitt Misused Government Position with Outreach to Chick-Fil-A

CLC requests investigation by EPA Inspector General about new revelations that fit ‘pattern of misconduct distinguishing Administrator Pruitt’s time at head of EPA’

WASHINGTON – Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a legal complaint with the Inspector General at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asking for an ethics investigation into Administrator Scott Pruitt’s abuse of his official position. Emails obtained by The Washington Post indicate that Pruitt leveraged his authority as a cabinet-level official and used governmental resources to secure a Chick-fil-A business opportunity for his wife. His actions appear to violate the ban on the use of official authority for the private financial gain of a relative.

“Beyond the legal concerns raised by Pruitt’s actions, Pruitt seems to ignore basic ethical principles about public service. Executive branch employees should use their government position and authority for the benefit of the public, rather than to benefit close family members,” said Delaney Marsco, legal counsel, ethics, at CLC. “Pruitt’s actions fit into a pattern of misconduct distinguishing his time at the head of the EPA.”