Interior watchdog opens probe of land deal linking Zinke, Halliburton chairman
Source: Politico
The Interior Department’s internal watchdog has launched a full investigation into a real estate deal involving a foundation established by Ryan Zinke and developers including Halliburton Chairman David Lesar, which was first reported by POLITICO last month, according to a letter the office sent to House Democrats on Wednesday.
The inspector general’s probe will focus on whether Zinke violated conflict of interest laws, the latest official inquiry of Zinke’s activities in his 16 months helming the department.
“You expressed special concern about the reported funding by a top executive at Halliburton and assuring decisions that affect the nation’s welfare are not compromised by individual self enrichment,” Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote to Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and other Democrats. "My office opened an investigation into this matter on July 16."
Zinke’s role at Interior places him as one of the chief regulators overseeing oil and gas drilling activities, including those performed by Halliburton, one of the world’s largest fracking and offshore drilling services companies. Zinke late last month defended his involvement with Lesar, while confirming he met him and other developers at Interior Department headquarters in August. Zinke said he had resigned from the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation, which he established a decade ago to build a park in his hometown of Whitefish, Mont., but briefed the developers on the foundation's background and the land it controls.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/18/ryan-zinke-interior-probe-732005
They're already looting in plain sight. Will there be anything left in November?
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