The office of inspector general said its investigation is based on numerous requests from lawmakers and conservation groups.
David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist, speaks before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at his confirmation hearing. By Darryl Fears Darryl Fears Reporter focusing on the Chesapeake Bay and issues affecting wildlife Email Bio Follow April 15 at 6:39 PM The Interior Department’s internal watchdog opened an investigation into ethics complaints against former oil and gas lobbyist David Bernhardt on Monday, four days after the Senate confirmed him as the agency’s secretary.
“We are continuing to gather pertinent information about the complaints and have opened an investigation to address them,” Kendall added. “We will conduct our review as expeditiously and thoroughly as practicable." Vander Voort included a list of actions Bernhardt took as acting secretary before his Senate confirmation, such as elevating the ethics office as a division that reports to the solicitor; hiring more full-time ethics professionals and giving them the power to raise concerns “more quickly and more directly.”
A year later, Interior reinterpreted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in a way that took that teeth out of enforcement. The department issued guidance to wildlife police who enforce the law that an individual or group cannot be held liable for killing birds.
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