Democrats call for Ryan Zinke probe as Scott Pruitt scandals soar

Democrats are calling for an investigation into Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for political wrongdoing as calls for the ouster of President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency chief reached a fever pitch Friday.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter Thursday night to the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel asking for an investigation into whether Zinke broke the Hatch Act and other laws when he traveled to Florida to announce he would be exempting the state from Trump's offshore drilling plans.

Zinke held a press conference with Republican Gov. Rick Scott of the Sunshine State to make the announcement. Scott had protested Zinke's original announcement about expanding drilling off the Sunshine State's coasts.


But critics say the entire process was staged to improve Scott's chances of winning a Senate seat.

The Hatch Act limits


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