1:18
- ABC News
- June 28, 2018
Watchdog probes Zinke's role in real estate deal
Democrats say Sec. Ryan Zinke met with Halliburton executive about the project.
A spokeswoman for Halliburton said the meeting was not related to the company and that Lesar's investment in the deal is personal.
\"The Company is confident that any actions of the Interior Department will not be influenced by Mr. Lesar’s personal investment,\" spokeswoman Emily Mir told ABC News in a statement.
Internal agency emails released by Interior Department show that Zinke had a scheduled meeting with David Lesar, the chairman of Halliburton, John Lesar, and Casey Malmquist on August 3 of last year. On a version of his calendar that was also released the same time frame that day was marked only as \"HOLD.\"
Zinke's spokeswoman Heather Swift said the meeting was on Zinke's personal time and that the three men talked to the secretary about the history and previous work on the project.
\"The two gentlemen talked on the Secretary’s personal time about the history of the site, previous studies, promised access and uses of the park, and the work that had gone into the park up to the point of the Secretary’s resignation. The Secretary adheres to all applicable laws, rules and regulations. He goes above and beyond mere technical compliance and strives for full transparency,\" Swift said in a statement.
The meeting was scheduled from 4:30pm to 6pm on August 3 of last year, according to documents publicly released by Interior.
The Democrats cite an email from the developer for the project to Zinke after that meeting as evidence Zinke might still be involved in the project. The developer emailed Zinke's personal email account on August 13 calling the project a \"grand slam\" and saying they are \"honored\" to be associated with the secretary.
\"I know you are extremely engaged and consumer with your role as Interior Secretary. I want you to know that whatever assistance you need to protect and promote your vision for the park, please let me know and I will make sure it is communicated and executed,\" Malmquist wrote in the August 13 email.
The email was included in emails publicly released by the Interior Department because it was forwarded from Zinke's personal account to his department account.
Swift said the developer emailed Zinke's personal email to get background info on the park project that no one else had. She also said Zinke forwarded Malmquist's email from his personal account out of an abundance of caution and to be transparent.
ABC News Soorin Kim contributed to this report.
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