Scott Pruitt’s not commenting about the speculation, but some wonder with the death of Sen. John McCain that it might alter possible future political plans of Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and Pruitt.
Here’s the speculation. With McCain’s death, Inhofe will move up on the Senate Armed Services Committee and likely become the chairman. Thus, would he seek re-election in two years when he will be 84?
That would affect former EPA chief Pruitt’s possible plans. During his brief fling as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Pruitt’s observers felt he took the office to help make a possible run to succeed Inhofe, his close friend and mentor. But if Inhofe were to run again, he might spoil Pruitt’s speculated plans.
So far, there’s been no announcement at the Armed Services Committee, but Sen. Inhofe is the second-most senior Republican. And reports indicate he has long wanted to be chairman of the committee.
“That’s a brass ring to him, and to reach for that brass ring and to be able to grasp it … is something that he’s always wanted,” said Frank Keating, former Republican governor of Oklahoma, according to a report by E and E Energy.
But some close to Inhofe and Oklahoma politics don’t see him stepping down — especially if he’s leading the influential panel that oversees the Pentagon.
“I had been hearing that he was very much going to stay, but obviously having the gavel of the Armed Services Committee makes an even stronger case for him to stay on,” said Matt Dempsey, a former Inhofe spokesman.
“I think he’s full speed ahead,” Dempsey added. “He obviously loves this job.”
Of course, Inhofe would keep the gavel only if the Republicans control the chamber, but Democrats face an uphill battle in wresting control away from the GOP in November’s midterm elections.
Pruitt has been keeping a low profile since he left EPA last month after a deluge of bad headlines and ethics allegations.
He was spotted at the Four Seasons hotel in Maui on Saturday, Politico Playbook reported. (Rooms for two adults there run from about $650 per night to $20,000 per night, according to the hotel’s website.)
Pruitt is widely expected to return home to Oklahoma, where his family has a house in Tulsa. It’s unclear what job he might seek or whether his stormy tenure at EPA clouds his political prospects in his home state.