Interior lawyer under investigation, facing Senate vote

The Department of the Interior's internal watchdog confirmed in letters sent to Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Raul Grijalva that investigators will conduct a broad assessment of the department's political review process of Freedom of Information Act requests. Interior's top lawyer, Daniel Jorjani, who had a hand in formalizing the review process, and now faces a Senate confirmation vote to become Interior Solicitor, was the subject of an investigation request by Senator Wyden. At his confirmation hearing, Jorjani told Congress that he does not review FOIAs, but public documents show that he has been heavily involved in reviews.

Daniel Jorjani could face a confirmation vote sometime this week, but Senator Wyden has previously said he will attempt to block the vote, claiming Jorjani committed perjury. The question is, will members of the Senate vote in favor of someone currently under investigation?

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Washington Post | Denver Post | Colorado Public Radio | Associated Press | The Hill

Documents suggest Acting BLM Director William Perry Pendley misled Congress on BLM relocation

Pro Publica

Interior watchdog investigating political appointees' review of FOIA requests

The Hill | Huffington Post

Millions of acres of oil and gas leases on public lands sell for $2 per acre, parcels continue to be sold in wildlife areas

KUER | Casper Star Tribune

Abandoned oil and gas wells could cost U.S. taxpayers $46 million to $333 million in reclamation costs

Associated Press

Meet the lawyers beating back Trump's reckless environmental policies and winning 

Rolling Stone

New group will battle environmentalists over Vigneto and other projects

Arizona Daily Star

Opinion: Interior Secretary David Bernhardt keeps giving jobs to anti-public lands extremists

Denver Post

It’s clear that Bernhardt, the ultimate D.C. swamp creature and lobbyist, has found common cause with anti-government lawyers like Pendley and Budd-Falen. All three of them have spent years trying to undermine America’s bedrock conservation laws like the Endangered Species Act."