Ryan Zinke is going all out in his response to Congressman Raúl Grijalva‘s (D-AZ) call for him to resign as Secretary of the Interior.
As Zinke continues to shrug off numerous investigations for ethical violations, Grijalva wrote an op-ed slamming Zinke’s “managerial failings” and called his resignation an “unavoidable” certainty. The context of the piece is signifiant since Grijalva is the top Democrat for the House Natural Resources Committee, so he’ll soon be in a position to conduct major oversight on Zinke once Democrats take control over the House of Representatives.
From the op-ed:
The American people need an Interior Department focused on addressing climate change, enhancing public recreation, protecting endangered species and upholding the sovereign rights of Native American communities. These are not matters of personal preference — they are enshrined in law and supported by voters. The department needs someone accountable at the helm who believes in this mission.
Mr. Zinke is not that person. Federal agencies cannot function without credible leadership, and he offers none. He needs to resign.
Clearly, Zinke isn’t pleased with the congressman’s rebuke. In a statement, the Trump cabinet member accused Grijalva of being a raging alcoholic:
My thoughts on Rep. Grijalva’s opinion piece. #TuneInnForMore pic.twitter.com/VMGxdtHwvU
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) November 30, 2018
UPDATE: Grijalva has responded.
The allegations against Secretary Zinke are credible and serious. Instead of addressing the substantive issues raised in this morning’s op-ed, he's resorting to personal attacks. https://t.co/QRiVPAjxPv
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) November 30, 2018
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