Thursday on MSNBC’s “All In,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called on both EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney should resign.
Gillibrand said, “I have deep concerns about Scott Pruitt, and he should resign given all the allegations against him—from taking a rental apartment from someone lobbying him, from the issue of raises to all the other scandals he’s brought forth. Also just his record. When he was attorney general of Oklahoma, he sued the EPA on behalf of polluters as opposed to helping his state and representing the health and well-being of families. And all he’s done since he’s been EPA administrator is roll back protections for clean air and clean water. So given where he is right now, I wish he would step down.”
She continued, “Unfortunately, President Trump said he would drain the swamp. He has filled it up. And he’s putting in place people in his cabinet that are directly opposed to the agencies they’re supposed to be running. Look at Mick Mulvaney, for example—head of the CFPD, supposed to be protecting consumers. We hear he’s bragging to bankers and bank lobbyists that the way to get access is to give money. And that’s how he conducted himself as a member of Congress, which is one of the reasons why I dropped a bill today to have postal banking, to try to unwind and get rid of some of the most predatory practices that payday lenders have right now. He was somebody vastly supported by payday lenders. So it’s a question of judgment. He’s got people around him that aren’t doing the mission of the agencies they’re supposed to be running.
When asked if she thought Mulvaney should resign, Gillibrand said, “I do. What he said is outrageous. I just have concerns that the president is constantly surrounding himself with people who are not putting the people’s interests first. They’re not serving others. They’re serving special interests, and they’re serving the ultra well connected, the ultra-wealthy. Look at his tax bill alone.”
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
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