Are We Saying Goodbye To the New Secretary of the Interior? We Just Met Him.
It’s too early to know whether or not the ethics investigation into newly installed Interior Secretary David Bernhardt will go anywhere. We need to presume the innocence of former coal lobbyist, and now the chief steward of 500 million acres of federally owned land with respect to the multiple felony charges leveled against him, i.e., that he used his position to advance a policy pushed by his former lobbying client; that he continued working as a lobbyist after filing legal paperwork declaring that he had ceased lobbying; and that he intervened to block the release of a scientific report showing the harmful effects of a chemical pesticide on certain endangered species.
Yet, while we’re waiting, perhaps we can think about the wisdom of pushing through confirmation proceedings of cabinet appointees when doubt remains about those candidate’s criminality. From this article: Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who has formally requested investigations into Mr. Bernhardt’s conduct, and who pushed for the delay of his Senate confirmation, wrote in a statement: “This is exactly why I wanted a delay in Bernhardt’s consideration. We now have an Interior Secretary who has been on the job for one full business day and is already under investigation.”
Seems like inescapable logic to me.
Of course, a stronger idea altogether is to nominate honest people with no financial ties to moneyed interests whose aims are to exploit public land, let’s face it: that is a pipe-dream.
Craig,
The “ethics investigation” by the Inspector-General is not something uncovered by an “investigation” or a “whistleblower”.
It’s just a political stunt eagerly misreported.
The Inspector-General has a statutory obligation to investigate all complaints received in writing by sitting Senators.
The Inspector-General received two such written requests from Democrat Senators, despite the issues raised having been extensively probed during the confirmation hearing.
The issues raised have already be “investigated” and found without merit.
David Bernhardt is a renowned expert with an almost unique perspective into the intricacies of this portfolio.
David Bernhardt has served a chief of staff and counselor to Secretary of the Interior as far back as 1999.
He became Solicitor of the United States Department of the Interior from 2006 to 2009.(unanimously confirmed by the Senate).
He also served as United States Commissioner to the International Boundary Commission, U.S. and Canada.
He served on the board of directors for the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries and various other public service positions.
He has served as Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary, the Department of the Interior for the trump administration.
As a Cabinet Member, his primary role is to administer the implementation of President’s policies within the restrictions of legislation.
It’s not his job to be a “rebel” or devise policy and strategy contrary to the remit of the elected President. He’s responsible to the President and the law.
In appointing David Bernhardt, the President is answerable to the US people for his decisions, and to the US Senate who can in extreme circumstances, invoke Section 2 of the 4th Amendment and remove a Cabinet appointee.
Senator Ron Wyden, display his willingness to abuse his position, while cynically pretending shock and surprise when declaring:
” We now have an Interior Secretary who has been on the job for one full business day and is already under investigation”.
The Senators “outrage” is a more than a little hypocritical when he is the instigator of this completely unnecessary investigation!