At Least 3 Interior Department IG Probes Focused On Zinke; CT Casino Denial, UT, MT Land Deals

[hatrack]

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Interior’s acting inspector general, Mary L. Kendall, is conducting at least three separate probes connected to Zinke. One involves his decision not to grant a permit to two Connecticut tribes to jointly run a casino, despite the fact that career staff had recommended the move, after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Another focuses on whether Interior officials redrew the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to benefit Utah Rep. Mike Noel (R), who owns property in the area.

The Montana project is another. When the referral to the Justice Department was reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday, it was not yet clear which of the probes had been turned over for possible criminal investigation. A senior White House official said the White House understood the investigation was looking into whether the secretary “used his office to help himself.”

Last year, Zinke’s wife, Lola, signed an agreement that would allow the 95 Karrow development to use land owned by the Zinkes’ foundation, Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation, as a parking lot. The proposed hotel, retail and microbrewery site is near several properties owned by the Zinkes. Details of the land deal were first reported by Politico. Zinke stepped down as the foundation’s president after joining Trump’s Cabinet, and his wife took over in that capacity. But federal records show that the interior secretary continued to discuss the project with Lesar and his son, along with local developer Casey Malmquist.

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The Zinkes own two companies, Continental Divide International and Double Tap, that have several parcels of land near the proposed project. According to Zinke’s most recent financial disclosure form, he received between $15,001 and $50,000 in rent or royalties from Continental Divide International last year and between $5,001 and $15,000 from Double Tap. Zinke stepped down from his leadership posts at both companies in March 2017. The Continental Divide’s properties’ assessed 2018 tax value stood at $858,160, while Double Tap’s properties were $467,400.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-concerned-interior-secretary-ryan-zinke-violated-federal-rules/2018/11/01/e5e4d2f4-dddc-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html?utm_term=.b47df30d35ef

[Girl powers]

1. Whitefish Energy

Hmmmmmm
Whitefish Energy is nearby. You know the TWO PERSON company that got millions to repair Puerto Rico’s electric infrastructure after “Maria”.