Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General referred a probe of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to the Justice Department for further investigation. In response, Matt Lee-Ashley, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Potential corruption by a member of the president’s Cabinet is deeply troubling and deserves a serious, thorough, and independent investigation. The Justice Department’s probe must be insulated from any political interference by the White House and an attorney general who cannot be expected to fairly oversee the investigation of a colleague. The attorney general should immediately appoint a special counsel to lead this investigation.
For more information, or to speak with an expert, contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.