GOP lawmaker wants ‘contrition’ from Pruitt

Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said on Wednesday that he hopes to hear “contrition and admission” from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt at a congressional hearing on Thursday.

“What I would like to see from the Administrator frankly is some contrition and admission that there are some things that have gone too far, if he believes that, and a plan for improvement,” Cramer said, according to NBC News’s Alex Moe.

Rep Kevin Cramer (R-ND) on Pruitt hearing tomorrow: What I would like to see from the Administrator frankly is some contrition and admission that there are some things that have gone too far, if he believes that, and a plan for improvement.”

— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) April 25, 2018

Pruitt is currently preparing to testify before the House Appropriations and Energy and Commerce committees on Thursday. He’s expected to face hours of intense scrutiny over the scandals that have surfaced about the administrator.

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On Tuesday, it was reported that Pruitt had turned down an offer from the White House to help him prepare for his testimony.

Pruitt instead chose to prepare with a team of loyal advisers he brought to Washington from Oklahoma, according to ABC News.

Sources told ABC News that his preparation has focused mainly on policy issues and not the controversies he is sure to be asked about.

According to internal EPA documents analyzed by The New York Times, Pruitt is planning to blame his staff for many of the actions that have led to criticism.

Among others issues, Pruitt is likely to be questioned about his $43,000 purchase of a soundproof booth for his office suite, his travel expenses and his rental of a Washington, D.C., condominium from the wife of an energy lobbyist with ties to the EPA.

Chief of staff John Kelly has advised President Trump to fire Pruitt, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month. The White House has also told Republicans to scale back their defense of Pruitt, according to Bloomberg.