EPA chief taps taxpayer dollars for weekend flights home

FILE - In this June 2, 2017, file photo, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt looks back after speaking to the media during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. Records show Pruitt spent weekends in his home state during his first three months in office, frequently flying to and from Oklahoma at taxpayer’s expense. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) FILE - In this June 2, 2017, file photo, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt looks back after speaking to the media during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. Records show Pruitt spent weekends in his home state during his first three months in office, frequently flying to and from Oklahoma at taxpayer’s expense. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

By Associated Press July 25, 2017 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The head of the Environmental Protection Agency has frequently used taxpayer dollars to fly to and from his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s expense reports from March, April and May show him traveling home at least 10 times, typically leaving Washington on Fridays and returning on Mondays.

Pruitt was either in Oklahoma or on trips that included stops there for nearly half the days encompassed in the three-month period, costing more than $15,000.

On a few occasions Pruitt traveled on a trip for EPA, and then paid out-of-pocket to fly to Tulsa before returning to Washington at government expense.

An EPA spokeswoman didn’t respond to requests for comment.