Federal judge removes Trump's public lands chief in win for Democratic Montana Senate candidate

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Washington Examiner

A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration’s public lands chief has illegally been working in his post without being confirmed by the Senate and blocked him from continuing in the position.

William Perry Pendley had been overseeing the Bureau of Land Management for 424 days without Senate confirmation.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris of Montana could have political ramifications. The suit was filed by Montana’s Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, who is running in a tight Senate race to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines.

“Today’s ruling is a win for the Constitution, the rule of law, and our public lands,” Bullock tweeted Friday. “Montanans can rest easy knowing that National Public Lands Day will begin with William Perry Pendley packing his desk and vacating the Director’s Office.”

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-judge-removes-trump-s-public-lands-chief-in-win-for-democratic-montana-senate-candidate/ar-BB19qYqy?li=BB141NW3&ocid=DELLDHP

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is excellent news indeed!

A black eye for tRump and a boost for Bullock, and our environment.

[GemDigger]

2. Thank you Judge!

[2naSalit]

4. Yup.

[2naSalit]

3. That's my Governor!

And soon to be Senator! People might not realize but Bullock has had a lot of experience wih environmental issues, there are always fights over issues crucial to the environment.

[Cha]

5. TY Judge Brian Morris!

[jeffreyi]

6. Hooray

For our besieged public lands. One small win. In the meantime, they are looting and pillaging.

[UpInArms]

7. A win for the environment

Federal judge removes acting Bureau of Land Management director after finding he has served unlawfully for 424 days

Pendley was nominated to be the permanent director of the agency in July but the Trump administration withdrew his nomination in September after a series of controversial statements -- including saying that climate change is not real and falsely saying that there was no credible evidence of a hole in the ozone layer -- were made public by CNN's KFile.
The BLM manages 244 million acres of federal lands in the United States -- one out of every 10 acres of land in the country -- along with 30% of the nation's minerals. As acting director of the BLM, Pendley wielded significant authority over the leasing and use of land for mining, recreation, and oil and gas exploration and development along with maintaining environmental protections for federal lands. The agency is currently taking steps to move its headquarters and employees out west.