EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Family Received “Unprecedented” Death Threats

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt speaks during an interview for Reuters at his office in Washington, U.S., July 10, 2017. (Photo: Reuters)

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his family have received “unprecedented” death threats ranging from social media, email, postcard and phone calls. While they also range in severity and credibility, one included a man threatening to “put a bullet between your eyes.”

Administrator Pruitt is under fire for numerous accusations, including those derived from a report by the Associated Press (AP) claiming his 20-member full-time security detail “approached $3 million when pay is added in travel expenses.”

However, EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox defended the detail and said Administrator Pruitt has faced “unprecedented” threats.

According to a report from August 2017, which covers the period from October 2016 to August 2017, the EPA Office of Inspector General detailed 13 death threats. Several of them were deemed serious enough to refer to the Justice Department (DOJ).

“Pruitt, I’m gonna find you and put a bullet between your eyes,” one of the more serious threats flagged by investigators stated. “Don’t think I’m joking. I’m planning this.”

The report also reveals that the administrator’s daughter received a death threat on Facebook.

Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to cast doubt on the seriousness of threats made to Administrator Pruitt.

Patrick Sullivan, the assistant inspector general for investigations at the EPA, sent an email to the agencies “Threat Coordination Group” describing an incident that occurred on March 6, 2018. A trespasser gained entry to EPA headquarters and identified himself as a student attending a “Microsoft event.”

“The personal asked about Scott Pruitt and wanted to know where Pruitt’s office was and if Pruitt ever walked in the hallway outside the room,” Mr. Sullivan wrote.

While he was escorted out of the EPA, he called the desk phone of an employee and left voicemails following the intrusion claiming “he can gain entry into EPA space anytime he wants.”

EPA says they’ve since changed protocols for entry into the building.