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U.S. NEWS Thursday 17 February 2022
Investigation: Zinke misused position as Interior secretary

By MATTHEW BROWN of the Zinke investigation to
Associated Press federal prosecutors for po-
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — tential prosecution.
Former U.S. Interior Secre- But the prosecutors who
tary Ryan Zinke misused work for Attorney General
his position to advance a Merrick Garland, appoint-
commercial development ed by President Joe Biden,
project that included a declined to pursue criminal
microbrewery in his Mon- charges in the summer of
tana hometown and lied 2021, according to the in-
to an agency ethics official vestigative report.
about his involvement in Zinke and his wife, Lola, de-
the project, according to a clined interview requests
report by federal investiga- from federal investigators
tors released Wednesday. who were looking into the
The investigation by the land deal.
Interior Department's in- Emails and text messages
spector general found that from others who were in-
Zinke continued working volved in the develop-
on the commercial project ment project show that
through a non-profit foun- In this Dec. 11, 2018 file photo, then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke speaks at EPA headquar- Zinke continued to com-
dation in the resort commu- ters in Washington. municate with developers
nity of Whitefish, Montana Associated Press even after resigning from
even after he committed the foundation in March
upon taking office to break about 25 miles (40 kilome- going substantive nego- in a statement that the in- 2017 and days after he was
ties with the foundation. ters) from Glacier National tiations" with developers volvement of Zinke's family confirmed as secretary, ac-
The report also said that Park and near the Mon- about the use of founda- with the foundation led to cording to investigators.
Zinke gave incorrect and tana-Canada border. The tion property for a com- the restoration of railroad The messages were ob-
incomplete information to BNSF Railway company do- mercial project known as land into a park where chil- tained through subpoenas
an Interior Department eth- nated several acres of land 95 Karrow, investigators dren can sled. to the developers, who the
ics official who confronted to the foundation in 2008 to said. The project included "They are proud of the chil- report does not name.
him over his involvement, establish the park. a potential microbrewery. dren's sledding park that "The evidence that we ob-
and that Zinke ordered In- After being named Inte- Zinke is a candidate in the dozens of kids use every tained reflected that Sec-
terior Department staff to rior secretary in 2017, Zinke June Republican prima- weekend and countless lo- retary Zinke exchanged
help him with the project in agreed to cut ties with the ry for an open Montana cals use for exercise every at least 64 emails and text
a misuse of his position. foundation and to stop pro- Congressional seat, a posi- day," the campaign state- messages and engaged
The Great Northern Veter- viding it with his services. tion he held prior to joining ment said. in multiple phone calls in
ans Peace Park Founda- But after resigning as the former President Donald The department's inspec- which he represented the
tion was created by Zinke foundation's president and Trump's cabinet. tor general's office — led Foundation in negotia-
and others in 2007 to build while he was employed as His campaign blasted the by Inspector General Mark tions related to the 95 Kar-
a community sledding hill the Interior Secretary, Zinke investigative report as "a Greenblatt, a Trump nomi- row project," investigators
in Whitefish, a tourist town engaged in "repeated, on- political hit job" and said nee — referred the results wrote. q

Black lawmaker sues anti-abortion group over racist threat

By JOHN RABY protective safety gear. statement.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) The lawsuit alleges that West Virginians for Life did
— West Virginia's only Black the email and Facebook not immediately respond
female lawmaker has filed post were "authored and to a telephone message
a lawsuit against an anti- posted" by West Virginians seeking comment on the
abortion group, citing a for Life and "constitute the lawsuit Wednesday. De-
racist Facebook post and a modern-day digital equiv- moske resigned earlier this
racist email she said she re- alent of burning a cross in month from the chapter af-
ceived for supporting leg- Delegate Walker's front ter admitting his action vio-
islation that would remove yard." lated the group's bylaws.
all restrictions on abortion. Walker, a Monongalia He did not have a listed
Delegate Danielle Walker County Democrat, is co- telephone number and did
filed the lawsuit Tuesday in sponsoring the legislation not immediately respond
Kanawha County Circuit to repeal all abortion re- to a Facebook message
Court against West Virgin- strictions in West Virginia. from the AP.
ians for Life and Richard A mother, she has spoken The lawsuit seeks unspeci-
Demoske, who resigned publicly about having an fied damages through a Democratic Del. Danielle Walker, a former abortion patient,
speaks at a press conference at the West Virginia state Capitol
as president of the group's abortion in the past. jury trial and asks for a re- in Charleston, W.Va. on Jan. 31, 2022 about a bill she's propos-
Berkeley County chapter "These digital communi- straining order to prohibit ing that would lift restrictions on abortion in the state.
after he admitted post- cations were and are de- the defendants from further Associated Press
ing the image of a Ku Klux signed by West Virginians contact with Walker.
Klansman on the group's for Life to harass, intimidate, In contrast to Walker's would ban abortion after preme Court.
Facebook page. The post and strike me with fear of proposed measure, the 15 weeks, a piece of leg- The legislation will now
targeted Walker by name. violence if I continue my Republican-led West Vir- islation almost identical to move on to the state Sen-
Walker said she remains in support of a woman's right ginia House of Delegates the Mississippi law currently ate, which is also dominat-
fear for her life and wears to choose," Walker said in a passed a bill Tuesday that under review by the U.S. Su- ed by Republicans.q