Chattanooga Times Free Press

› Scott Pruitt’s top spokespers­on latest to leave EPA,

- BY ELLEN KNICKMEYER

WASHINGTON — Scott Pruitt’s top spokespers­on said Thursday she was leaving the Environmen­tal Protection Agency, the latest high-profile departure as the embattled EPA administra­tor fights ethics allegation­s.

Liz Bowman, EPA’s associate administra­tor for public affairs, confirmed by phone she was leaving but refused to discuss what motivated her departure.

In an emailed statement, Bowman said she was grateful to serve under President Donald Trump and Pruitt.

“Being a member of the EPA team has allowed me to further my skills, learn from my mistakes, and make lifelong friendship­s,” said Bowman, who left the American Chemistry Council trade group to work for Pruitt.

Her departure comes a week after Pruitt’s security chief and Superfund administra­tor left amid a growing series of federal ethics investigat­ions of Pruitt’s tenure at EPA.

Former security chief Pasquale Perrotta appeared for an hours-long, closed-door interview Wednesday with staff on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

In interviews and before lawmakers, Pruitt has consistent­ly blamed subordinat­es for questions about spending by his office, including round-the-clock security and first-class plane tickets for Pruitt.

Last week, the EPA head told congressio­nal lawmakers that he had no idea staffers had spent $43,000 on a soundproof booth after he asked for a private, secure communicat­ions set-up.

His former deputy chief of staff, Kevin Chmielewsk­i, denied that, telling ABC News in a segment aired Wednesday that Pruitt knew the booth would be in “the tune of over $40,000.”

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