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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Nicole Ghio, (925) 451-8038 NGhio@foe.org, Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, pdavis@foe.org

Inspector General to Investigate Zinke over Halliburton Meeting

The Department of Interior's inspector general today announced their office would open an investigation into a shady real estate deal involving Secretary Ryan Zinke and David Lesar, the chairman of Halliburton.

The deal, which involves Halliburton and a foundation started by Zinke and chaired by Zinke's wife, is the latest controversy surrounding the scandal plagued Zinke.

WASHINGTON

The Department of Interior's inspector general today announced their office would open an investigation into a shady real estate deal involving Secretary Ryan Zinke and David Lesar, the chairman of Halliburton.

The deal, which involves Halliburton and a foundation started by Zinke and chaired by Zinke's wife, is the latest controversy surrounding the scandal plagued Zinke.

His list of scandals has grown to include flying in private planes when commercial options were available, attending political events while on work travel, disproportionately targeting climate scientists and Native Americans when reassigning senior career staff, forcing out the popular superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and saying that 30 percent of Interior staff are "not loyal to the flag" while also insisting that a special secretary's flag be flown over the DOI main building when he is present -- and that the secretary's flag be as big as the American flag.

In response to the inspector general's investigation, Nicole Ghio, Senior Fossil Fuels Program Manager at Friends of the Earth issued the following statement:

Zinke's shady backroom dealings with the chairman of Halliburton is yet another example of a Trump appointee profiting from his office at the expense of our environment. Zinke has proven again that he is not worthy of the public's trust.

Halliburton directly benefits from Interior's safety rollbacks and fossil fuel giveaways. This revelation confirms that Zinke is clearly exploiting his office for personal gain. Zinke and other public officials are appointed to serve the American people, not the pocketbooks of their wealthy donors and business associates.

Friends of the Earth fights for a more healthy and just world. Together we speak truth to power and expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit. We organize to build long-term political power and campaign to change the rules of our economic and political systems that create injustice and destroy nature.

(202) 783-7400