Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the refusal by Senate Republicans to delay the final confirmation vote for Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator in order to review thousands of emails between his office and fossil fuel companies:

“The Senate’s job to vet Cabinet nominees requires full access to information about each nominee. And there’s no question that thousands of emails between Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and fossil fuel companies apply directly to his nomination to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“That’s why it’s so disappointing that Republicans refused to delay his final confirmation vote long enough to let all senators review these emails. Republicans are already jamming nominees through as quickly as possible, but this decision is particularly egregious as it clearly prevents senators from studying relevant material.

“I hope Senator McConnell will reconsider this approach to confirming nominees. All 100 senators have a constitutional obligation to review as much information as possible about each nominee—that’s the least we can do for Cabinet positions that have such a clear and direct effect on the lives of all Americans.”