Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware) cheered Thursday's resignation of Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Carper said despite President Donald Trump saying he wanted to drain the swamp in Washington D.C., Pruitt became a swamp creature.
“Wish he he hadn’t been confirmed, wish he hadn’t done as much damage as he has," he said. "There’s a lot we have to undo. But this is a good day, it’s a good day for our country and it’s a good day for our planet.”
Carper said he knew Pruitt would undermine environmental policies as EPA administrator. But the brazen abuse of his position for personal gain was astounding.
Pruitt is facing more than a dozen investigations into alleged unethical behavior such as spending millions of dollars on a security detail and traveling first class. He was also accused of reassigning staff who questioned his spending and using government aides to find a job for his wife.
Carper said it’s possible Pruitt may have broken the law.
“We’ll see what they come up with," he said. "There’s an old saying 'Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.' There’s been a lot of smoke as it turns out and some fire and so stay tuned stay tuned. I’m just pleased that he’s gone.”
Carper, the ranking Democrat on the committee that oversees the EPA, added that he hopes to work with the Trump administration in selecting a new nominee. The position must be confirmed by the Senate.
