Carper Statement on Oklahoma Attorney General’s Attempt to Further Delay Release of Pruitt Records

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement regarding Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter’s request to the state Supreme Court to delay the release of documents that former Oklahoma Attorney General, and current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Scott Pruitt has refused to disclose for over two years.

Earlier this month, in response to multiple requests made by the Center for Media and Democracy and committee Democrats during Pruitt’s confirmation process, an Oklahoma District Court ordered the Attorney General’s office to turn over the long-requested records by the end of the month. Thus far, the AG’s office has produced only a fraction of the documents it is obligated to disclose.

“The Attorney General’s office has had more than two years to make these documents available to the public. For more than two years, they have refused to do so. Their claim now that they suddenly need more time is nothing but continued obstruction from the AG’s office.

“Throughout Mr. Pruitt’s confirmation process, my colleagues and I sought the truth regarding these documents and, ultimately, Mr. Pruitt’s record. This move by Mr. Pruitt’s successor to delay the release of these documents indefinitely indicates his intent to further obscure the truth and keep concerned Americans in the dark.”