Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt is “acting like a chucklehead” with “juvenile” behavior that’s “distracting” from the Trump administration’s agenda, Sen. John Kennedy charged Sunday in a blistering critique of the beleaguered administrator.
In an interview on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” the Louisiana Republican stopped short of calling for Pruitt’s firing amid charges of his alleged ethics lapses and excessive spending.
“Ethics matter,” Kennedy said. “Impropriety matters. …stop acting like a chucklehead, stop the unforced errors, stop leading with your chin. If you don't need to fly first class, don't. Don't turn on the siren on your SUV just to watch people move over.
“You represent the president of the United States, all of this behavior is juvenile, it's distracting from the business that we're trying to do for the American people.”
“I don't mean denigrate but doggone it, he represents the president of the United States and it is hurting his boss. And it needs to stop,” he added.
Pruitt’s job future is “up to the president,” he said.
“I know what I would do if I were Mr. Pruitt,” he said. “I'd call a press conference tomorrow and say, ‘okay, let's talk about your criticisms of me. I would do a full blown press conference say, ‘okay, here are your criticisms. That's fair. I'm going to stop doing that.’”
Kennedy conceded “some” of the allegations against Pruitt may be politically motivated, “but all of it isn’t.”
“He either travels with 20 security folks or he doesn’t,” he said. “Either flies first class every single time or he doesn't. I don't know whether the allegations about his apartment are true or not, they don't look good.
“In his position, why do you want to rent an apartment from a lobbyist for god's sake. Stop leading with your chin. These are unforced errors, they're stupid. A lot of problems we can't solve. But you can behave. “
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