The head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, is “devastated” after he was forced to resign under heavy pressure over a series of ethics-related controversies, contradicting President Donald Trump’s account that the decision “was very much up to” Pruitt.
Pruitt, who had been lauded by Trump for his aggressive efforts to roll back environmental regulations, resigned as EPA administrator on Thursday.
Trump told reporters on Thursday that Pruitt had approached him and offered to resign as opposed to being pushed out. But White House Chief of Staff John Kelly later delivered a message from the president that it was time for the scandal-plagued administrator to leave, according to two people familiar with the situation.
Pruitt did not want to leave his post and was described as being devastated that he had to resign, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing a personnel matter.
Trump announced the resignation…