Republican Sen. Joni Ernst blasts Scott Pruitt: 'He is about as swampy as you get'

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last updated 5 June 2018

Even some senators who didn't sign the record-breaking resolution demanding Scott Pruitt's resignation are losing their patience with the scandal-ridden Cabinet member.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told Bloomberg that the Environmental Protection Agency chief is "about as swampy as you get here in Washington, D.C." She further said that "if the president wants to drain the swamp, he needs to take a look at his own Cabinet."

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A record 130 members of the House of Representatives and 39 members of the Senate called for Pruitt to resign back in April, due to the dozen federal investigations into his conduct at the EPA. Ernst and Grassley haven't demanded that Pruitt step aside, but Bloomberg reports that they don't expect him to last much longer, regardless. If Pruitt keeps "going against" Trump's campaign promises, said Ernst, "I don't know how long that relationship can last." Read more at Bloomberg.

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Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.

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