NRDC Urges Senate to Delay Pruitt's Confirmation Vote

WASHINGTON – The Senate should postpone its scheduled vote today on Scott Pruitt's nomination as Environmental Protection Agency administrator until members can fully examine his years-long private communications with the fossil fuel industry while serving as Oklahoma's attorney general, the Natural Resources Defense Council said.

The following a statement by Rhea Suh, NRDC president:

''If these chaotic four weeks have taught us anything, it’s not to rush to action before knowing the facts. These emails will tell us—in Pruitt’s own words—whether he will continue to protect polluter profits or defend our environment and health. It’s scandalous that Pruitt hasn’t released them already—as the law requires. The Senate must not rush to confirm  Pruitt before knowing the truth about his fossil fuel ties. This is what checks and balances are all about. Let’s get the facts before saddling the country with another debacle.''

Late Thursday, a state district judge in Oklahoma ordered the state attorney general's office to turn over by Tuesday as many as 3,000 documents between Pruitt and the energy industry.

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.