UNITED STATES
The Hill
BRETT SAMUELS
05/10/18
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Scott Pruitt reportedly dined in Rome last year with a Catholic leader who was under investigation at the time for child sexual abuse, according to newly published records.
The New York Times on Thursday released a series of internal communications obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request that show Pruitt dined at a five-star restaurant with Cardinal George Pell in June 2017. Pell, like Pruitt, has expressed skepticism about man-made climate change.
Documents obtained by the Times show that EPA officials began planning for the dinner in May 2017. Pell had also offered to give Pruitt a tour of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, which apparently did not take place.
The Times reported that none of the EPA schedules from that day noted that Pell was at the dinner with Pruitt.
Prior to the trip, EPA officials learned that Pell was under investigation, according to The New York Times’ Eric Lipton.
Pell has since been put on trial related to charges of sexual abuse spanning decades.
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