Somehow, there have been two completely different, distinct stories today about Scott Pruitt being unethical in the tackiest way possible.
Earlier today, we learned that Pruitt—man of the people, fighter of the elites, according to the Weekly Standard—made EPA security agents drive him to Ritz-Carlton hotels so he could pick up a particular brand of moisturizing lotion, and had them pick ups his dry-cleaning. Now, the Daily Beast reports, Pruitt constantly demands his staffers to drop the vital work they’re doing to destroy the environment and feed the big boy his snackies:
According to four sources familiar with the work environment at the Environmental Protection Agency, its scandal-plagued EPA administrator has regularly sent his subordinates out during the workday to pick up his favorite snacks and treats. Pruitt has been known to send staffers on these errands at least twice a week, with some sources describing his demands as “constant,” and others merely noting that he does this “frequently.”
“I can’t tell you how many times I was sent out to get protein bars on the orders of [Pruitt],” one person told The Daily Beast.
The Daily Beast report also has some remarkably detailed accounts of Pruitt’s eating habits. Emphasis mine:
“I can’t tell you how many times I was sent out to get protein bars on the orders of [Pruitt],” one person told The Daily Beast.
Beyond the protein bars, Pruitt also has a well-known sweet tooth, and often tells staffers to make a grocery run to get his preferred sweets, cookies, and Greek yogurt, among other items, sources say.
Pruitt’s tastes in snacks are rather refined, according to former aides. He is particularly fond of finger food from the upscale eatery Dean & Deluca, according to a former EPA official. Pruitt is also particular about his coffee tastes, the former official said, and would often direct an aide to brew him pour-over coffee, which he prefers to more run-of-the-mill brewing methods.
Scott. My man. You are literally a member of the cabinet. Why is your abuse of power so goddamn lame?
An EPA spokesperson, who may or may not be the same guy who called a woman a “piece of trash,” told the Daily Beast in a comment: “EPA will not be commenting on anonymous sources who are working to distract Americans from Administrator Pruitt’s accomplishments on regulatory certainty and environmental stewardship.” Yeah, that must be it.
Both of these stories put together, in addition to all of the other Scott Pruitt stories (including this one from April about him wanting to use sirens in traffic so he could make reservations at the D.C. restaurant Le Diplomate) can only bring us to one possible conclusion: Scott Pruitt is a gigantic fucking yuppie—just like his boss—and an evil one at that.