Cummings and Connolly Release New Details from Interview with Top EPA Official

Washington, D.C. (June 4, 2018)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and Rep. Gerry Connolly, the Ranking Member and Vice-Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Chairman Trey Gowdy requesting he issue a subpoena for documents being withheld by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to Administrator Scott Pruitt's multiple abuses of authority in using agency staff for his own personal purposes.

On May 18, Republican and Democratic Committee staff conducted a transcribed interview with Millan Hupp, the EPA Director of Scheduling and Advance, who confirmed several previous allegations against Administrator Pruitt and revealed new details about additional personal tasks she completed on his behalf.

"During her interview with Committee staff, Ms. Hupp not only confirmed the previous allegations against Administrator Pruitt, but revealed significant new details about the extent to which he utilized her for personal tasks, including using his credit card to book personal flights and even attempting to obtain an "old mattress" from the Managing Director of the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C."

Cummings, Connolly, and other members sent a letter on April 12 to Administrator Pruitt explaining that Kevin Chmielewski, who had served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at EPA, had blown the whistle on these abuses and they requested all documents relating to Ms. Hupp's activities. The EPA issued a statement condemning Mr. Chmielewski as being part of "a group of disgruntled employees who have either been dismissed or reassigned."

"If Ms. Hupp's statements to the Committee are accurate, Administrator Pruitt crossed a very clear line and must be held accountable," Cummings and Connolly wrote. "Your previous document requests to the EPA have not included a request for information on this topic. We ask that you issue a subpoena for the documents from our April 12, 2018 request that EPA is withholding or allow Committee Members to debate and vote on a subpoena motion at our next business meeting."

Click here to read today's letter.