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

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."

Ernst and her fellow Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) both slammed Pruitt for failing to uphold the campaign promises made by President Trump. Grassley said on Tuesday that Pruitt "has betrayed the president," while Ernst accused the EPA administrator of "breaking our president's promises to farmers."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

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.