Protesters disrupt confirmation hearing for Trump's EPA nominee

The public was not permitted to witness a public hearing. — (Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/remmagolds)

The Senate confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, faced an unusually rocky start in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Protests at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are "not unprecedented, but extraordinary," observed Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). Outside the doors, protesters — including representatives from Standing Rock — expressed frustration about not being allowed to enter the public hearing for Pruitt's confirmation:

Pruitt has been a highly criticized choice to lead the EPA due to his frequent efforts over the years to dismantle or weaken the agency.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.