Embattled EPA chief Scott Pruitt on Tuesday blasted a "toxic" political climate, and pushed back at critics who would "resort to anything" to stop the agenda of President Donald Trump, the Washington Examiner reported.
In an interview with the news outlet, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator insisted he had done nothing unethical in renting a $50-a-day room from a fossil fuels lobbyist — and the EPA agrees.
"There are people that have long in this town done business a different way and this agency has been the poster child of it," he told the Examiner. "And so do I think that because we are leading on this agenda that there are some who want to keep that from happening? Absolutely.
"And do I think that they will resort to anything to achieve that? Yes. It's toxic here in that regard."
In his interview, Pruitt fully endorsed Trump's pro-jobs, anti-regulatory aims, and boasted the aims were being accomplished.
"This president's courage and commitment to make those things happen and him empowering his teammates in each of these respective agencies to say go forth and get results and get accountability," he told the Examiner. "It's happening. It's happening here, it's happening elsewhere. And do I think that is something that some folks don't like? Absolutely. And do I think they'll use any means to [stop] it? Absolutely. And it's frustrating."
Despite calls for Pruitt's resignation, the White House appears to be solidly behind him.
"We're leaning in," Pruitt said. "When a pitcher throws to you inside and tries to knock you off the plate, you get back in the box and get up close to the plate and dare him to throw it inside so you can pull it and knock it out of the park.
"Look, the goal here is to focus on getting results and as the noise happens . . . getting the job done," he added.
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