More scrutiny for Zinke
Interior Department makes referral to Justice Department
WASHINGTON — The Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General has referred one of its probes into the conduct of Secretary Ryan Zinke to the Justice Department for further investigation, according to two individuals familiar with the matter.
Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall, who is serving as acting inspector general, is conducting at least three probes that involve Zinke. These include his involvement in a Montana land deal and the decision not to grant two tribes approval to operate a casino in Connecticut. The individuals, who spoke of the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly, did not specify which inquiry had been referred to the Justice Department.
A spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office declined to comment on the matter Tuesday.
The Justice Department declined to comment, and Interior did not immediately responded to a request for comment.
A referral to the Justice Department means that prosecutors will explore whether a criminal investigation is warranted. While an agency’s inspector general regularly issues reports on the findings of its inquiries, it refers cases to the Justice Department only when it has determined that there could be criminal violations.
A senior White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said the White House understands that the investigation is looking into whether the secretary “used his office to help himself.”
Since taking office in March 2017, Zinke has come under scrutiny for his travel practices and other aspects of his job performance.
Separately on Tuesday, Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote Zinke urging him “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.”