Scandal-plagued Scott Pruitt used 24/7 security detail to find his favorite moisturizing lotion

Scandal plagued Scott Pruitt, who used aides to shop for a luxury mattress and apartment options, used his 24/7 government security detail to take him in search of his favorite moisturizing lotion, it was revealed on Thursday.

The Environmental Protection Agency chief also asked his agents to pick up his dry cleaning, reported The Washington Post.  

EPA security agents are required to protect Pruitt at all times – both when he’s working and when he’s off the government clock – but two sources said Pruitt asked members of the detail to perform tasks that go beyond their primary function. 

They described how he had agents drive him to multiple locations around Washington D.C. in search of a particular lotion on offer at Ritz-Carlton hotels. 

Pruitt is under fire for multiple questionable uses of tax payer money during his tenure at the EPA, including $3.5 million on his own security, $10,000 to redecorate his office, using his security detail’s flashing lights and sirens to make a dinner reservation at a posh D.C. restaurant, and and building a $43,000 soundproof booth in his office.

The House Oversight Committee is investigating him.

It was reported earlier this week he used a government aide to help him shop for a used luxury mattress at President Trump’s Washington hotel. 

That aide, Millan Hupp, who has been at Pruitt’s side since his time in Oklahoma, has given notice and her last day at the EPA is Friday. 

And it was reported earlier Thursday the White House asked Pruitt to stop using the military mess as his own personal dining room.  

The U.S. Navy-run restaurant next to the Situation Room is open only to White House officials, Cabinet members and other dignitaries.

The EPA did not respond to the Post when the paper asked about the latest round of allegations against Pruitt.

‘Administrator Pruitt follows the same security protocol whether he’s in his personal or official capacity,’ spokeswoman Kelsi Daniell said.

Federal rules bar public officials from receiving gifts from subordinates, including unpaid services.

Pruitt has had 24/7 security protection since he became EPA administrator in February 2017. 

He’s argued there have been of an unprecedented number of threatening comments but a letter from the EPA’s Inspector General and emails obtained by The Washington Post suggest Pruitt was more concerned about being shielded from public anger over President Donald Trump’s policies.

SCOTT PRUITT’S SCANDALS IN BRIEF 

Ex-Oklahoma attorney-general Scott Pruitt had never lived in Washington D.C. until he became EPA Administrator last year. But his scandals now include how he:

  • Paid just $50 a night to stay in a condo owned by an energy lobbyist’s wife but only when he was in town (and called it ‘market rent’);
  • Had his door battered down by Capitol Hill Police because he wasn’t responding and claimed he was ‘napping’ – on a weekday afternoon; 
  • Allegedly demanded flashing lights and sirens to get through traffic because he was late for dinner;
  • Also allegedly demanded a bulletproof SUV with run-flat tires  – and a bulletproof desk;
  • Got a desk ‘bigger than the Resolute’ and a soundproof phone booth to stop officials hearing his calls; 
  • Had his security chief reassigned, allegedly for questioning his demands;
  • Allegedly had other officials moved or reassigned for questioning his spending; 
  • Claimed to know nothing about pay raises given to two key aides he brought with him from Oklahoma; when the White House turned them down, officials found a loophole;
  • Booked private jet flights and got authorization afterwards when it was too late to turn them down;
  • Used flights through hubs so he could then get home to Oklahoma more cheaply from there; 
  • Got first class flights, with officials claiming he had ‘threats’ and needed to be kept from ordinary passengers – but only concrete example was someone shouting ‘you’re f***ing up the environment’ in Atlanta Airport; 
  • Officials looked into getting him $100,000 a month private jet from NetJets;
  • His spokesman falsely claimed he had a ‘blanket waiver’ to fly in first;
  • Missed a flight en route to Morocco and spent a day and a night in Paris instead;
  • Took his round the clock security detail on his vacation to the Greek islands and Turkey;
  • When he was questioned about his $50-a-night deal by Fox News said it was ‘unfair to ask.’
  • Used an aide to help him shop for a used luxury mattress at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. 
  • Used 24/7 security detail to pick up dry cleaning and help him shop for lotion 

The document describe an incident aides reported where Pruitt switched to flying first class after an individual approached him in an airport last year and used vulgar language.

A second top Pruitt aide, senior adviser Sarah Greenwalt, has also given notice and is returning to Oklahoma.

Her departure follows Hupp’s, his director of scheduling and advance, whom Pruitt directed to help him purchase a Trump Home Luxury Plush Euro Pillow Top mattress.  

A standard queen version of the luxury mattress, without a box spring, costs $1,399 before tax and shipping. A standard king costs $1,750.

It was one of many unique tasks Hupp performed for her boss, which saw her scout apartments in D.C. neighborhoods and arrange his family vacation to California over the New Year’s holiday so the Pruitts could watch the Oklahoma Sooners play in the Rose Bowl.

Pruitt also approached conservative non-profit Concordia and fast food company Chik-fil-A about gigs for his wife, Maryln, The Washington Post reported.

In the case of Chik-fil-A, Pruitt had an aide set up a call with the head of the company for the purpose of discussing a ‘potential business opportunity.’ In a subsequent conversation, Pruitt brought up his wife’s desire to open up a Chik-fil-A franchise.

Mrs. Pruitt started but did not finish the paperwork, a spokesperson for the company told The Post.

Hupp’s sister, Sydney, is the one who set up a call for her boss with Chik-fil-A exec Dan Cathy.

‘The subject of that phone call was an expression of interest in his wife becoming a Chick-fil-A franchisee,’ representative for the company, Carrie Kurlander, told The Post.

Pruitt personally approached Concordia head Matthew Swift about his wife, the news outlet reported, and the conservative group ultimately paid the EPA administrator’s wife $2,000 to organize the non-profit’s annual conference. Concordia also covered her travel expenses. 

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday afternoon that she had not talked to President Trump about the latest blow to Pruitt’s credibility. She said as she did on Monday when DailyMail.com asked about Pruitt that the White House would look into the charges.

‘I haven’t had a chance to speak with the president directly about the Washington Post’s new report,’ Sanders told a reporter. ‘We continue to have concerns and look into those and we’ll address them.’   

Trump praised Pruitt Wednesday during a hurricane preparedness briefing attended by the president, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Pruitt and other Cabinet officials.

‘EPA is doing really, really well. And you know, somebody has to say that about you a little bit. You know that, Scott,’ Trump said. ‘ People are really impressed with the job that’s being done at the EPA. Thank you very much, Scott.’

 



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