Dem Senator accuses EPA chief Pruitt of violating ethics law

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Senate Democrat says the head of the Environmental Protection Agency is breaking the law by agreeing to headline a state GOP fundraiser.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse filed an ethics complaint Tuesday against EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt over a planned May 5 appearance as the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma Republican Party's annual gala dinner. The Rhode Island Democrat says that would violate the Hatch Act, which limits the political activities of executive branch employees.

Pruitt served as Oklahoma's elected attorney general prior to his appointment to the Trump administration. In that post, he frequently raised campaign funds from fossil-fuel corporations and their executives.

Sponsorship levels for the upcoming GOP gala range from $2,000 to $5,000. The invitation specifically touts Pruitt's support for eliminating federal regulations limiting planet-warming carbon emissions.