Interior chief dismisses criticism of travel

FOLKSTON, Ga. — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Wednesday strongly defended his use of private charter flights for government business, calling criticism of his taxpayer-financed travel “complete and utter bull—-” and driven by politics.

Zinke brushed off news reports that he took at least three private flights costing taxpayers a total of $20,000 since taking office in March, saying all his travel is “legal, ethical. All the trips went through absolute due diligence.”

Zinke spoke to reporters following a tour by boat of a swamp at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia. He said that in his job, everything he does “goes through absolute legal review.”

Previous Interior secretaries spent even more money on private travel, Zinke asserted. “I wish you’d publish that. Because I can tell you, they’re in the millions,” he said without providing any documentation.

Zinke’s comments came as Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee asked the Interior Department to provide documents on the use of private charter flights for government business by the past three Interior secretaries, including two who served under President Barack Obama.

Reps. Rob Bishop of Utah and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas said they were seeking the information following news reports that Zinke and other Trump Cabinet members used noncommercial flights costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. Bishop chairs the Natural Resources panel, while Westerman leads an oversight and investigations subcommittee.

Meanwhile, a climate scientist who filed a high-profile whistleblower complaint against Zinke resigned. Joel Clement was reassigned to an accounting job in June after warning about dangers faced by Alaska Natives because of climate change.