David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist, speaks before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at his confirmation hearing. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)The Interior Department’s internal watchdog opened an investigation into ethics complaints against former oil and gas lobbyist David Bernhardt on Monday, four days after the Senate confirmed him as the agency’s secretary. “We are continuing to gather pertinent information about the complaints and have opened an investigation to address them,” Kendall added. Throughout his confirmation process, Bernhardt and his allies in the Senate maintained that he has complied with the agency’s ethics guidelines and has hired additional ethics officers to strengthen them. In addition, Interior decided to no longer bill offshore oil and gas operations for leaks that kill birds under the act.

Source: Washington Post April 15, 2019 22:40 UTC