Dem who Zinke attacked as a drinker says his departure is ‘no kind of victory’ | TheHill – The Hill

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) on Saturday said news that Interior Secretary Ryan ZinkeRyan Keith ZinkeOvernight Energy — Sponsored by the National Biodiesel Board — Trump EPA to roll out plan for fighting lead exposure | Top Interior lawyer once said women shouldn’t be NFL referees | California moving toward electric bus fleet by 2040 Top lawyer at Interior once said women shouldn’t be NFL referees because they PMS Alaska oil and gas lease sale nets .5 million MORE will depart the administration at year’s end was “no kind of victory.”

“This is no kind of victory, but I’m hopeful that it is a genuine turning of the page. It’s time for the Interior Dept to put the public good ahead of the fossil fuel industry, and House Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee will do just that come January,” he tweeted.

This is no kind of victory, but I’m hopeful that it is a genuine turning of the page. It’s time for the Interior Dept to put the public good ahead of the fossil fuel industry, and House Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee will do just that come January. https://t.co/WJYmDM4ybn

— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) December 15, 2018

Zinke, late last month, attacked Grijalva after the Democrat published an op-ed calling for the Interior secretary’s ouster, calling him “unfit.”

“It’s hard for him to think straight from the bottom of the bottle,” Zinke responded. “This is coming from a man who used nearly $50,000 in tax dollars as hush money to cover up his drunken and hostile behavior,” he added, referring to a $48,000 settlement Grijalva entered into with a former employee on the House Natural Resources Committee who accused him of being frequently drunk and creating a hostile work environment.

Grijalva had written that Zinke should resign, citing the Cabinet secretary’s “ethical and managerial failings.” 

“While the secretary continues to project confidence, questions have grown since the election about his future plans, and the White House reportedly fears that he would be unable to withstand scrutiny on Capitol Hill,” he wrote.

Grijalva, the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, had launched several investigations into Zinke through requests to the Interior Department’s inspector general (IG). The IG referred its probe into the deal to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution of conflict of interest laws.

Zinke faced several ethics scandals, including intense scrutiny over a land deal involving a foundation he led and a company backed by David Lesar, chairman of oilfield services company Halliburton. Zinke denied any wrongdoing.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpAustralia recognizes West Jerusalem as Israeli capital, won’t move embassy Mulvaney will stay on as White House budget chief Trump touts ruling against ObamaCare: ‘Mitch and Nancy’ should pass new health-care law MORE announced Zinke’s departure early Saturday, saying he would leave the administration at the end of the year. He did not specify whether Zinke resigned or was fired, and said he will announce his replacement next week.