Two Top EPA Aides Resign Amidst Scott Pruitt’s Ethics Controversies

Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt announced today that two of his top aides resigned.

Pasquale Perrotta — known as “Nino” —  was Pruitt’s top security official, and Albert Kelly — known as “Kell” — worked on cleaning up toxic sites. Their departures from the EPA come just as the agency and Pruitt himself are under scrutiny for ethics breaches.

Perrotta is still expected to appear at a House Oversight Committee interview tomorrow. According to NBC News, Kelly is under investigation for his financial dealings with Pruitt, and he is banned from banking for life.

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Pruitt thanked Kelly for his service in the statement.

“Kell Kelly’s service at EPA will be sorely missed,” Pruitt said.

Two sources told NBC News that Kelly was leaving because he was tired of criticism about being banned from banking for not disclosing his loan to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Pruitt himself is under heavy ethical scrutiny at the moment. While serving as the EPA’s head, he rented a swanky D.C. townhouse for an extremely low price just as the EPA granted the fossil-fuel lobbying firm William & Jensen — who are linked to the townhouse owners — approval on a pipeline extension. The EPA also broke the law by not disclosing an expenditure of $43,000 on a soundproof phone booth for Pruitt.

Article by Natasha Roy