Ryan Zinke resigned from his post as Interior Secretary amid multiple ethics scandals.
- The Interior Department Inspector General found that Zinke misused his position as Interior Secretary to advance a development project in his hometown in Montana and failed to disclose the details of his involvement to ethics officials when questioned.
- The Interior Department Inspector General found, as Interior Secretary, Zinke lied to investigators about conversations he had with lobbyists, lawmakers, and other officials regarding a bid by two Indian tribes to operate a casino in Connecticut.
- The Interior Department Inspector General found Zinke violated government rules by allowing his wife to travel with him in government vehicles and for considering making her a volunteer so she could travel for free.
- Zinke came under scrutiny for planning to spend $139,000 to replace doors in his Interior Secretary office suite. After being confronted about the cost, Zinke claimed he had reduced it by half.
¶ Zinke Resigned As Secretary Of The Interior During Trump’s First Administration Because He Became Embroiled In Multiple Ethics Scandals
HEADLINE: "Interior Secretary Zinke Resigns Amid Investigations" [Washington Post, 12/15/18]
HEADLINE: "Zinke To Leave Interior Amid Scandals" [Politico, 12/15/18]
¶ Investigators Found Zinke Misused His Position As Interior Secretary To Advance A Development Project In Montana And Hid His Involvement
HEADLINE: "U.S. Investigation Finds That Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Misused Position" [NPR, 2/16/22]
The Interior Department Inspector General Found That Zinke Misused His Position As Interior Secretary To Advance A Development Project In His Hometown In Montana And Failed To Disclose The Details Of His Involvement To Ethics Officials When Questioned. According to NPR, "Former U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke misused his position to advance a development project in his Montana hometown and failed to disclose details of his involvement when questioned by ethics officials, a federal investigation has found. The report, released Wednesday by the Department of Interior's Office of Inspector General, centers on the former Trump Cabinet member's affiliation with the nonprofit Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation, which he and others established in 2007, and a development called the 95 Karrow project." [NPR, 2/16/22]
- Investigators Found That Zinke And His Wife Were In Negotiations To Build A Commercial Project On A Part Of The Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation’s Land And That He Did Not Comply With Ethics Obligations. According to NPR, "The report, released Wednesday by the Department of Interior's Office of Inspector General, centers on the former Trump Cabinet member's affiliation with the nonprofit Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation, which he and others established in 2007, and a development called the 95 Karrow project. The report shows that Zinke and his wife were in negotiations with developers to build a commercial project on a portion of the foundation's land in Whitefish, Mont. Investigators found that Zinke did not comply with his ethics obligations, in which he agreed not to manage services associated with the foundation. Investigators also found that he misused his authority to direct subordinates to help with the project." [NPR, 2/16/22]
- While Serving As Interior Secretary, Zinke Emailed A Developing To Offer Input On Design Elements Of The Project, But When Asked About It In July 2018, Zinked Denied “Substantive Involvement In Foundation Matters.” According to NPR, "In one email to a developer in 2017, Zinke — while serving as interior secretary — offered input on design elements of the project, adding that ‘the foundation is happy to partner with you on the proposed project.’ A July 2018 memo from Department of the Interior ethics officials shows that when Zinke was questioned, he denied ‘substantive involvement in foundation matters.’" [NPR, 2/16/22]
HEADLINE: "Trump Interior Secretary Crossed Lines In Land Dealings With Halliburton Executive, Watchdog Finds" [Politico, 2/16/22]
The Interior Department Inspector General Found, As Interior Secretary, Zinke Lied To Investigators About Conversations He Had With Lobbyists, Lawmakers, And Other Officials Regarding A Bid By Two Indian Tribes To Operate A Casino In Connecticut. According to the Associated Press, "Former Interior secretary Ryan Zinke lied to investigators about conversations he had with lobbyists, lawmakers and other officials regarding a bid by two Indian tribes to operate a casino in Connecticut, the department’s internal watchdog said Wednesday." [Associated Press, 8/24/22]
- September 2017: Instead Of Approving Or Rejecting The Mashantucket Pequot And Mohegan Tribes’ Request To Open A Casino On Non-Tribal Land In Connecticut, Zinke Sent It Back To The Tribes. According to the Associated Press, "Zinke was accused of acting improperly on a request by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes in Connecticut to open a casino on non-tribal land in East Windsor, Connecticut. The request required federal approval. The proposed site was close to a casino planned by Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. The MGM casino opened in 2018. Zinke did not approve or reject the tribes’ request, instead sending it back to the tribes in September 2017." [Associated Press, 8/24/22]
- The Casino Proposed By The Indian Tribes Was Close To A Casino Planned By MGM In Springfield, MA, Which Opened In 2018. According to the Associated Press, "Zinke was accused of acting improperly on a request by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes in Connecticut to open a casino on non-tribal land in East Windsor, Connecticut. The request required federal approval. The proposed site was close to a casino planned by Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. The MGM casino opened in 2018. Zinke did not approve or reject the tribes’ request, instead sending it back to the tribes in September 2017." [Associated Press, 8/24/22]
- The Tribes And Connecticut Alleged That Improper And Undue Political Influence, Including From MGM, Was Behind Zinke’s Decision Not To Sign Off On The Agreements. According to the Associated Press, "The lack of action led to a federal ethics investigation, one of several against Zinke, who served as Interior secretary from March 2017 to January 2019. The state of Connecticut and the tribes also filed a lawsuit in 2017, alleging that improper and undue political influence, including from MGM, was behind the decision not to sign off on the agreements." [Associated Press, 8/24/22]
The Interior Department Inspector General Found Zinke Violated Government Rules By Allowing His Wife To Travel With Him In Government Vehicles And For Considering Making Her A Volunteer So She Could Travel For Free. According to CNN, "The Department of Interior Inspector General found that Secretary Ryan Zinke and his wife violated policy for government travel and he considered making his wife a volunteer which would have allowed her to travel for free, according to a new report. The investigation into Zinke’s alleged abuse of position found the secretary broke agency policy when his wife traveled with him in federal vehicles. The report also stated Zinke considered trying to get around agency rules by making her a volunteer at the agency, which would have entitled her to travel for free with him on the taxpayers’ dime. Zinke denies that his intention was to skirt government rules for reimbursement for travel, and the report states the Zinkes reimbursed the government for Lola Zinke’s travel in Interior Department vehicles when required." [CNN, 10/18/18]
As Secretary Of The Interior, Zinke Initially Planned To Spend $139,000 For New Doors In His Office Suite. According to Politico, "The Interior Department is spending $139,000 for new doors for Secretary Ryan Zinke’s office suite, according to records posted online. The work was recommended by Interior career facilities and security officials, an agency spokeswoman said, not by Zinke. The award to Maryland-based Conquest Solutions LLC was first reported by the Associated Press. The work involves replacing three sets of double doors, including two that open onto a balcony and leak during rain storms, the AP reported. An existing set of doors to Zinke’s office from a hallway do not have a lock, so the security will be upgraded with the new doors." [Politico, 3/8/18]
After Facing Controversy Over The Cost Of Replacing Six Historic Doors In His Office, Zinke Claimed He Had Reduced The Cost By Half. According to CNN, "Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Thursday that his department has nearly cut in half the $139,000 bill for replacing six historical doors in his office. The six-figure cost drew headlines last week as the spending of several Trump administration Cabinet secretaries has been in focus. ‘We got it down to $75,000,’ he said at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing Thursday. ‘It was 139 – I was reading the article, too, how could doors be $139,000? So I asked the question.’" [CNN, 3/15/18]