At a Glance

Pruitt has been accused of lavish spending and ethical violations that have resulted in several investigations.Pruitt said many of the media reports are nothing more than "half-truths" and "twisted stories".

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt testified Thursday during back-to-back hearings before two House subcommittees, where he was forced to answer questions pertaining to lavish spending and other alleged ethical missteps.

In recent weeks, Pruitt has been under scrutinyover accusations of lavish spending and ethicsviolations that have resulted in .

Among the allegations are extensive first-class travel for Pruitt and his aides, including a trip in June that reportedly costtaxpayers more than $120,000, and for spending up to $3 million for security during his first year in office. Questionable security expenditures included a soundproof booth for making private phone calls that cost $43,000, an expenditure that Pruitt blamed on "career individuals at the agency" who "signed off on it all the way through."

He is also under fire for renting a WashingtonD.C.,condo from the wife of a lobbyist with whom Pruitt has a business relationship before heading up the EPA andfor allegedly retaliating against EPA staff who challenged him.

The hearing wasmeant to be a routine budget meeting, but legislators took the opportunity to question him on specific allegations and policy decisions.

Pruitt responded to aggressive lines of questioning by either deflecting the question, laying the blame on others or not answering direct questions.

In anopening statement during the first hearing with the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on the Environment, Pruitt said many of the media reports are nothing more than "half-truths" and "twisted stories" coming from sources who "want to derail the president's agenda."

"I promise you that I, more than anyone, want to provide hard facts," Pruitt said. "I have nothing to hide as to how I've run the agency."

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Rep. Paul Tonko (D-New York)asked Pruitt whether he had approved pay raises for two EPA employees he brought with him from Oklahoma.

"There was delegation given in my authority,” Pruitt responded. “I was not aware of the amount, and I was not aware of the bypassing that was going on.”

Tonkoretorted that the administrator's answer indicates that“you have no idea what is going on” at the agency under "your name."

California Emissions Standards

Pruitt did say that "at the present time," the agency has no plans to revoke California's waiver to have its own standards on car efficiency. The remarks come several weeks after the EPA announced plans to give automakers a break in emission standards.

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Despite callsfor his resignation, including by some Republicans, Pruitt defended his position as EPA chief, noting that regulatory rollbacks, including the Clean Power Plan,have saved Americans $8 billion. He added that under his leadership, the country is "pruning back decades of regulatory overreach."

Several congresspersons came to the administrator's defense includingRep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), who said: "It's shameful that this day has turned into a personal attack."

Still, some Democrats on the committee were having none of it.

"You are unfit to hold public office and undeserving of the public trust," Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said, adding later:"I think your actions are an embarrassment to President Trump. If I was the president I wouldn't want your help. I'd get rid of you."

Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-California) pointed out that the administrator's calendar is filled with meetings with representatives of the oil, gas and coal industries andtrade organizations and few with environmental organizations, noting that "it seems deep pockets are a prerequisite to getting a meeting with your office."

House Appropriations Committee Testimony

At a second hearing before the House Appropriations Committee Thursday afternoon, Pruitt reiterated that he has nothing to hide in how he has run the agency and said he will make any changes that might be necessary.

He also reiterated that he had no knowledge of the cost for the $43,000 soundproof booth and said if he had known, he never would have approved the amount.

Rep. Betty McCollum(D-MN) said the EPA budget is"reckless, irresponsible and unrealistic" and told Pruitt in regards to allegations that he is "letting the American people down, and you’re letting your agency down."

In response to allegations of inappropriate luxury travel, Pruitt said he changed travel arrangements because of an "unprecedented" numberof threats, including two Facebook posts.

"That was something that was predicated upon a security assessment," Pruitt said, referring to the changes in travel plans. "The inspector general has noticed that the threats against me have been unprecedented compared to previous administrators, as it related to the number and also the type of threats. And that dictated the changes that were made in my travel."