Trump rejects reports he's mulling replacing Sessions with Pruitt
Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt can do no wrong in President Trump’s eyes, but he’s not Attorney General material.
Trump pushed back Friday against reports that he is considering replacing Attorney General Jeff Sessions with the embattled EPA administrator, who is facing a flurry of scandals and major ethics controversies.
“Do people really believe this stuff? So much of the media is dishonest and corrupt!” Trump tweeted.
Do you believe that the Fake News Media is pushing hard on a story that I am going to replace A.G. Jeff Sessions with EPA Chief Scott Pruitt, who is doing a great job but is TOTALLY under siege? Do people really believe this stuff? So much of the media is dishonest and corrupt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 6, 2018
Pruitt has come under fire for renting a Capitol Hill condo from the wife of a fossil fuel lobbyist, spending taxpayer money on first-class travel accommodations and security, green-lighting pay raises for aides without White House approval and reassigning subordinates who question his management style.
On Thursday, CNN reported that Trump talked about replacing Sessions with Pruitt as recently as this week. Trump has openly criticized Sessions in the past and speculations about his departure have surfaced time and again.
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Sessions drew Trump’s ire by recusing himself from the ongoing investigation into Russian election meddling and possible ties to the Trump campaign.
Pruitt’s fate remains unclear as lawmakers call for his resignation and the administration probes his actions.
Trump tweeted that Pruitt is “doing a great job but is TOTALLY under siege.”
On Thursday, Trump told reporters that the EPA chief is doing a “fantastic job.”
Trump has been pleased with Pruitt’s efforts to roll back environmental regulations, the White House said earlier in the week.
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