Move over Jeff Sessions, Scott Pruitt wants your job. Literally.
The begrudged EPA director who routinely asks staff to perform “personal errands” is hoping to run the United States Department of Justice. This same 50-year-old Republican who doesn’t appear to comprehend the value and validity of a clear and open calendar has propositioned President Trump to allow him to replace Sessions under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.
Sessions reportedly told the White House he would consider resigning if Trump fired his deputy, Rod Rosenstein. The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal were the first to report the news.
Here’s what we know about the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998: The law requires the “executive branch departments and agencies to report to Congress and Government Accountability Office (GAO) information about the temporary filling of vacant executive agency positions that require presidential appointment with Senate confirmation.”
Pruitt has informed Trump that if given the opportunity to fill Sessions’ seat directly, he would return to Oklahoma within the 210 days allotted. At that time, he would run for office.
Any way this ends, the contentious 14th Administrator of the EPA is expected to be thisclose to walking away from his controversial post at the EPA – as he should. The climate change critic has proven severely under-qualified to hold any public office, let alone direct an agency rooted on the basis of environmental protection.
The prospect of Pruitt having any additional involvement in government affairs at this time is severely unprecedented. However, in the Trump realm of possibility, it appears he’d fit right in with the rest.