EPA's Pruitt 'Dumbfounded' by Travel Criticism Amid Campaign

Environment Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruitt is firing back against criticism of his travel habits, saying he's "dumbfounded" by the attacks and calling the reports "gratuitous" amid a growing campaign to get him ousted, The Washington Post reports.

Environmental activists have launched the #BootPruitt campaign, weaponizing the reports of Pruitt's excessive travel habits as well as his EPA policies that aim to reverse Obama-era regulations.

"EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is threatening our health, wasting taxpayer dollars on luxury travel, and is under investigation for his actions," the website reads.

But Pruitt is punching back on the claims of excessive travel, making the rounds on the conservative radio circuit last week to defend himself.

"I'm a little bit dumbfounded by the kind of media narratives," Pruitt told Mark Reardon, a conservative host on KMOX in St. Louis last week.

Pruitt told Oregon KLX conservative radio host Lars Larson that the reports were "very gratuitous."

The Inspector General is investigating Pruitt's travel habits, justification for which the EPA has put on the administrator's security detail, which has noted first class is a better option to avoid rude travelers who lob insults at the former Oklahoma attorney general.

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