>>> SO YOU CAN ADD EPA ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT PRUITT TO
THE LIST OF TRUMP OFFICIALS TO
BE CONFRONTED IN A RESTAURANT.
BUT WHAT’S WORSE FOR PRUITT,
"THE WASHINGTON POST" REVEALED
TWO OF HIS TOP AIDES PROVIDED
FRESH DETAILS TO CONGRESSIONAL
INVESTIGATORS IN RECENT DAYS
ABOUT SOME OF HIS MOST
CONTROVERSIAL SPENDING AND
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. HERE’S THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF
THE STORY.
>> FOR NEARLY ANYONE ELSE, AND NEARLY ANY OTHER TIME, THIS
WOULD BE CAREER THREATENING.
BUT FOR SCOTT PRUITT, IT’S
ANOTHER DAY AT THE EPA.
THIS ISN’T HIS FIRST TIME AT THE
RODEO OR HIS SECOND OR THIRD.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, HE’S
FACED AN ONSLAUGHT OF NEGATIVE
PRESS OVER ACTIONS HE’S TAKEN
DURING HIS POLITICAL CAREER,
FROM SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS
ON FOUNTAIN PENS, WANTING A
SOUNDPROOF PHONE BOOTH AND
SOMETHING CALLED TACTICAL PANTS,
TO HAVING A TOP AIDE GET A
CHICK-FIL-A FRANCHISE FOR HIS
MOUTH.
MOUTH. PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING, HOW DOES
THIS MAN STILL HAVE A JOB
WORKING FOR A PRESS AND MEDIA
OBSESSED PRESIDENT?
OBSESSED PRESIDENT? BILL CRYSTAL IS BACK WITH US.
I’M GOING TO LET YOU TAKE THE
FIRST STAB AT THAT, HOW IS HE
STILL THERE?
STILL THERE? >> I DON’T KNOW.
IT’S NOT AS IF THEY CAN’T GET
SOMEONE ELSE IN THERE WITH
CONSERVATIVE VIEWS HOW THE EPA
SHOULD REGULATE.
SHOULD REGULATE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO
HAVE PRUITT’S VIEWS WITHOUT THE
BAGGAGE.
BAGGAGE. >> HE COULD PICK SOMEONE AT A
RALLY THAT WOULD AGREE WITH THAT
AND NOT HAVE THIS MUCH BAGGAGE.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. IT SHOWS IN A WAY ONCE TRUMP
DECIDES TO BE STUBBORN, FOR ALL
THE MEDIA PRESSURE, EVEN SOME
CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE, IF YOU
CONTROL BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS
AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE SERIOUS
OVERSIGHT FROM EITHER HOUSE, AND
THE DEMOCRATS ARE SS HAVE JUST D
MISERABLE JOB OF CAUSING
TROUBLE, CAUSEYOU HEAR ALMOST
NOTHING.
NOTHING. HAVE SENIOR DEMOCRATS IN THE
HOUSE OR SENATE BEEN AFFECTED IN
CALLING THIS AND MAKING THIS
MORE OF A FUSS ABOUT THIS?
TRUMP IS HELPED A LOT ABOUT THE
INCOMPETENCE OF THE DEMOCRATS.
>> EVEN REPUBLICANS HAVE BECOME
CRITICS.
CRITICS. THIS IS THE FORMER ACTING
DIRECTOR FOR BUSH AND OBAMA, WHO
SAYS THAT PRUITT IS THE GIFT
THAT KEEPS ON GIVING IN TERMS OF
HOW SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION ABUSE POWER AND
POSITION.
>> IT’S LIKE A TICKER TAPE PARADE OF SCANDALS.
>> THE PRESIDENT GETS MAD ABOUT
SOMETHING BURIED ON THE INSIDE
OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES."
>> THE STORY IS THE ONE FROM
VOX, WHERE HE TOLD TWO EMPLOYEES
TO PAY FOR HIS HOTEL AND SAID
I’LL GET YOU BACK AND DIDN’T PAY
FOR IT.
FOR IT. HE’S LIKE HORRIBLE BOSSES,
WASHINGTON EDITION.
WASHINGTON EDITION. IT’S NOT JUST YOU CAN FIND
SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THIS
POSITION, BUT SCOTT PRUITT IS
GOING TO START SHOWING UP IN
CAMPAIGN ADS AND BE USED AGAINST
REPUBLICANS THIS FALL.
THERE IS NO VALUE HE BRINGS TO
THIS ADMINISTRATION, THAT IS
OUTWEIGHED BY THE SCANDALS THAT
HE’S CAUSING.
HE’S CAUSING. ALL HE DOES IS DAMAGE AND BRING
DOWN ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE
REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DO. CR
FACTOR.
FACTOR. I’M SORRY, THERE’S NOTHING
NORMAL -- IF YOU FLY OUT OF LG
AN, THEY’VE GOT THOSE LITTLE
PHONES, I ALWAYS SEE THEM, LIKE,
SOMEONE SHOULD JUST BUY HIM ONE
OF THESE.
OF THESE. LIKE, A LACK OF
SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WANTING THE CREAM.
THAT’S SUPER WEIRD.
THERE IS A WEIRD FACTOR.
IT’S THE BAD HEADLINES WEREN’T
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH. THE IDEA YOU CAN PICK ANY MAN OR
WOMAN OR CHILD OUT OF ANY TRUMP
RALLY AND THEY COULD DO THE SAIL
JOB WITHOUT THAT BAD PRESS.
THERE’S A WEIRDO FACTOR.
>> I’M NOT LOOKING FOR PRESIDENT
TRUMP TO FIRE HIM AND I’M NOT
LOOKING FOR DEMOCRATS TO SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT HIM BECAUSE WHY.
LET HIM JUST BE CRUSHED BY THE
WEIGHT OF HIS OWN SCANDAL.
TURN HIM INTO CAMPAIGN ADS SO
THEY CAN SHOW THE CULTURE OF
CORRUPTION THAT IS THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND YOU JUST
ASKED A MOMENT AGO WHAT ARE
TACTICAL PANTS.
TACTICAL PANTS. I DID A GOOGLE, WENT TO TACTICAL
GEAR, YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS
DESCRIPTION.
DESCRIPTION. TACTICAL PANTS GUIDE AT A
GLANCE.
GLANCE. TACTICAL PANTS A PEER TO BE SS A
SIMPLE CARGO BUT ONE STRATEGIC
PLACEMENT OF TAILORED POCKETS
FOR THE REAL-ACTION FIGURE.
>> LET ME ASK YOU --
>> TOTAL WEIRDO.
>> ETHICAL LAPSES BECOME LEGAL
CONCERNS?
CONCERNS? >> MAYBE THE CHECK JUST LIKE
MULER IS DOING SOME OF THE
CHECKING THAT CONGRESSIONAL
REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE DOING
UNDER THE PRESIDENT, A
PROSECUTOR CAN CHECK PRUITT AND
SO IT’S AGAINST THE LAW TO
SELF-DEAL.
SELF-DEAL. YOU CAN’T USE YOUR GOVERNMENT
JOB TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE --
>> WHY ISN’T HE LOOKING INTO
HIM?
HIM? >> THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE A
REFERRAL TO A CRIMINAL
PROSECUTION.
PROSECUTION. BUT YOU WORKED IN THE DISTRICT,
YOU WORKED FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, SO YOU KNOW THAT ANY
REGULAR GS EIGHT OR NINE WOULD
HAVE BEEN FIRED FAST --
>> RICHARD PAINTER WAS MY ETHICS
OFFICER.
OFFICER. A REPORTER COULDN’T BUY ME A
SODA.
SODA. I HEARD YOU TRYING TO GET BACK
IN.
IN. >> I THINK HONESTLY PEOPLE ARE
KIDDING THEMSELVES IF THEY THINK
SCOTT PRUITT IS GOING TO BE IN A
LOT OF ADS.
NO ONE’S GOING TO ADVISE THE
CANDIDATE TO PUT UP AN AD ABOUT
AN EPA ADMINISTRATOR NO ONE’S
HEARD OF.
HEARD OF. THE WEEKLY STANDARD CALLS FOR
PRUITT TO RESIGN OR BE FIRED.
SO I’M APPALLED BY PRUITT’S
BEHAVIOR.
BEHAVIOR. BUT THE SYSTEM DOESN’T CORRECT
ITSELF.
ITSELF. EVEN IF YOU’RE IN THE MINORITY,
YOU CAN THREATEN TO HOLD UP A
PROP PRE
PROP PRE APPROPRIATIONS.
APPROPRIATIONS. DIFFERENT THAN US SITTING
AROUND, BOY, CAN YOU BELIEVE
THIS HEADLINE?
THIS HEADLINE? I’M EMBARRASSED THAT REPUBLICANS
HAVE DONE SO LITTLE.
HONESTLY INTEREST THERE ARE 49
DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE.
COULDN’T A CALL OF THEM MAKE
THIS THEIR THEME AND HAMMER AWAY
ON IT?
ON IT? THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN SO PASSIVE
ON THIS.
ON THIS. >> THE POLITICAL ARGUMENT SEEMS
TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT HOLDS
ANY WATER WITH THIS WHITE HOUSE.
THERE’S A POLITICAL CASE TO BE
MADE THAT PRUITT IS SO AGAINST
BRAND.
BRAND. I MEAN, HE’S AGAINST THE TRUMP
BRAND IN EVERY WAY.
HE’S THE SWAMPYIST GUY THEY’VE
GOT.
GOT. DONALD TRUMP LIKES RICH GUYS
LIKE GARY COHN.
ALWAYS TRYING TO SCAM
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. HE’S GOT HIS AIDES PUTTING HOTEL
ROOMS ON THEIR PERSONAL CREDIT
CARD.
CARD. I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF THAT’S
LEGAL.
LEGAL. HE’S SO AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT
DONALD TRUMP RAN ON.
WON’T SAY BELIEVED IN BECAUSE
WHO KNOWS WHAT HE BELIEVES IN.
HE’S CERTAINLY AGAINST THE TRUMP
POLITICAL BRAND.
POLITICAL BRAND. DO YOU THINK THAT AT ANY POINT
WILL BRING -- YOU KNOW, MAKE HIS
JOB LESS SECURE?
>> IT’S POSSIBLE.
TRUMP DOES TURN ON PEOPLE.
EVENTUALLY GETS RID OF THEM.
IT WOULD BE KIND OF AMAZING IF
JOHN KELLY GOES THE NEXT MONTH.
PRUITT’S HANGING IN THERE.
LOOK, IT’S PRETTY APPALLING.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN DONALD
TRUMP IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND LOOK AT WHAT HE DOES
AND GETS AWAY WITH.
SO EVEN I FEEL SILLY SITTING
HERE BEING ALL INDIGNANT ABOUT
THE EPA ADMINISTRATOR WHEN TRUMP
HAS DONE THINGS THAT ARE MUCH