Newly confirmed Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is already being investigated for potential ethics violations

David Bernhard, interior secretary
(Image credit: Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

The Interior Department inspector general's office opened an investigation Monday into ethics complains lodged against Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist who was confirmed by the Senate just four days ago. Nancy DiPaolo, a spokeswoman for the inspector general, said the investigation is "based on requests from multiple lawmakers and others," including conservation groups.

The department's acting inspector general, Mary Kendall, said in a letter to one of the complainants, the Campaign for Accountability, that her office had received seven complaints from a "wide assortment" of parties "alleging various conflict of interest and other violations by then deputy secretary of the interior, David Bernhardt," adding, "We are continuing to gather pertinent information about the complaints and have opened an investigation to address them." Before becoming acting secretary in January, Bernhardt was the top deputy to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who retired while in the shadow of several internal investigations.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.