October 31, 2018

Wyden Joins Blumenthal & Warren to Demand Interior Secretary Zinke Reimburse Taxpayers for Personal Use of Public Resources

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to demand Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke cease using taxpayer-funded activities for personal gain and reimburse the federal government for his private uses of public resources.

Last week, the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General issued a report showing that Zinke repeatedly skirted agency policy in order to allow family members, friends, and other special guests, including fundraisers and former donors, to benefit from taxpayer-funded government travel.

“Since taking office in March 2017, you have been subject to a jaw-dropping 15 federal investigations, several of which are ongoing, raising many questions into your conduct at DOI. This pattern of unethical, corrosive conduct is completely inconsistent with your obligation to our nation’s public lands,” wrote the senators in a letter to Zinke. “We urge you to immediately cease any efforts to use the office of the Secretary of the Interior for personal gain and fully reimburse the public for your private use of public resources.”

A full copy of the letter can be found here.