Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to pardon Scooter Libby: “First, Sheriff Arpaio. Now, President Trump pardons Scooter Libby. This is a perversion of the pardon power and an instrument for obstruction of justice. The President is sending a clear signal to others... Read more »
Louise Radnofsky and Peter Nicholas President Donald Trump said Friday he has pardoned a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. “I don’t know Mr. Libby,” said Mr. Trump, “but for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly. Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life.” Mr. Libby, now 67 years old, was convicted in 2007 of... Read more »
Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Rep. Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to President Donald Trump and a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt expressing grave concerns about stunning new revelations they received this week from Kevin Chmielewski—a long-time supporter and campaign aide... Read more »
Kyla Mandel Two letters sent by top Democratic senators and representatives to President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt Thursday reveal new information about the administrator’s questionable travel habits and what prompted him to fire former deputy chief of staff Kevin Chmielewski. Chmielewski, a lifelong Republican and former Trump aide, was pla... Read more »
Eric Lipton and Lisa Friedman Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, insisted on staying in luxury hotels that were costlier than allowed by government standards, while also pushing to fly on an airline not on the government’s approved list so he could accrue more frequent flier miles, one of his top former deputies at agency has told congressional investigators. The new... Read more »
Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement on today’s release of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s report on how the Federal Transit Administration can strengthen oversight safety: “This GAO report finds that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) does not have its own house in order regar... Read more »
Mike Lillis Democrats are lashing out at the notion that President Trump and GOP leaders may seek to eliminate some of the funding increases in the enormous 2018 spending package adopted less than two weeks ago. Republicans have come under fire in their districts during the spring recess after supporting the $1.3 trillion omnibus bill, which provides a huge bump in both defense and domestic spend... Read more »
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) It seems every day there is another disappointing headline for the beleaguered EPA administrator. There are the chartered airplanes and the unprecedented 24-hour security detail that none of his predecessors required. We’ve read about a secret privacy booth more appropriate for the CIA than the EPA. And then there is the sweetheart condo deal and his abuse of the Safe ... Read more »
Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee Members Gerry Connolly, Carolyn B. Maloney, Eleanor Holmes Norton, William Lacy Clay, and Jimmy Gomez sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and the Acting Director of the Census Bureau, Dr. Ron Jarmin, Ph.D., requesting all documents relating to concerns expresse... Read more »
Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released the following statement on press reports that EPA Administrator Pruitt used the Safe Drinking Act to give two political appointees pay raises after the White House refused his requests for the salary increases: “The Safe Drinking Act is meant to protect communities, not dole ... Read more »
