Senate Republicans used their majority to confirm President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency Friday, despite calls from Democrats to delay until requested emails are released. Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner voted yes and Sen. Michael Bennet voted no in a 52-46 vote, according to the New York Times.
As part of a public records lawsuit, a state judge in Oklahoma on Thursday ordered Scott Pruitt to release thousands of emails that he exchanged with oil and gas executives by next week. Pruitt, who is Oklahoma's attorney general, has refused to release the emails for more than two years.
Democrats boycotted a committee vote on Pruitt's nomination last month, citing his refusal to hand over the emails, and on Thursday called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to delay Pruitt's confirmation vote until the nominee turns over the thousands of requested emails from his time as attorney general.
