Scandal-Ridden Zinke On The Way Out At Interior Department

Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who is currently the subject of a dozen federal investigations, will be leaving his post at the end of the year, President Donald Trump announced Saturday morning on Twitter:

Here’s a brief summary of the investigations facing Zinke, courtesy of CNN:

“The Justice Department is investigating Zinke for possibly using his office for personal gain following a referral from the Interior Department’s inspector general, CNN has previously reported.

The Interior inspector general has multiple inquiries into the secretary, including the department’s handling of a Connecticut casino project, whether the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument were redrawn to benefit a state lawmaker, and conversations between Zinke and Halliburton Chairman David Lesar about a land development project in Zinke’s hometown of Whitefish, Montana.”

Environmental groups say they’re glad to see Zinke on the way out. Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Colorado-based conservation group Center for Western Priorities issued a statement which read:

“Ryan Zinke will go down as the most anti-conservation Interior secretary in our nation’s history.”

Social media also cheered the exit of Zinke:

It’s believed Zinke may be interested in running for governor of Montana in 2020, provided he hasn’t been indicted by then. Even if he is, Trump will probably pardon him and give him a hearty pat on the back.

Featured Image Via NBC News