Trump EPA official arrested on criminal ethics charges

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official in the Trump administration was arrested Thursday two days after being indicted on multiple alleged violations of Alabama ethics laws. 

Trey Glenn, the regional director for EPA’s southeast region, was arrested for allegedly helping an Alabama law firm fight potential EPA actions to clean up contaminated sites on behalf of Drummond Co., which could be responsible for the cleanups.

{mosads}Among other charges, Glenn and former Alabama Environmental Management Commissioner Scott Phillips were indicted on soliciting a thing of value from a principal, lobbyist or subordinate and receiving money in addition to that received in one’s official capacity.

Acting EPA chief Andrew Wheeler declined to comment on the case Tuesday, saying he hadn’t spoken with Glenn about it.

“I just learned about it this afternoon. I haven’t had a chance to look into the matter or talk to him personally yet,” Wheeler said at an EPA event.

Glenn denied the charges in a statement provided by his lawyer.

“The charges against me are totally unfounded, and will be vigorously defended,” Glenn said. “I am innocent and expect to be fully vindicated.”

The Alabama Ethics Commission in 2007 also found probable cause that Glenn violated state law to obtain personal trips, including a trip to Disney World that was paid for by a public relations firm representing a client with business before the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, which he was the director of at the time.

Timothy Cama contributed.