WASHINGTON ¨C EPA Chief Scott Pruitt¡¯s four-day trip to Morocco last December was puzzling from the start.
Environmental Protection Agency officials didn¡¯t tell reporters about the excursion until after Pruitt had returned. And their initial explanation ¡ª that Pruitt was touting the benefits of U.S. liquefied natural gas ¡ª raised questions because the issue falls outside the EPA¡¯s jurisdiction.
Now, Democrats are demanding more details about the role of a lobbyist in planning Pruitt¡¯s jaunt to Morocco. The lobbyist, Richard Smotkin, accompanied Pruitt for part of the trip, helped facilitate meetings during it and, four months later, won a $40,000-a-month contract with the Moroccan government.
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