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On the security detail, Zinke told the IG that the decision was made by security officials (US Park Police) at Interior: \"They’re paid to do the threat assessment. I tend not to tell them what to do.\" He said he had not known at the time of the trip that the detail was unarmed but added that, in his experience, \"oftentimes you don’t need a gun.\"

Zinke also asked employees to look into whether Lola Zinke could be made a volunteer at the department and that some employees thought this would allow her to travel without reimbursing the department. The report found that while it would have been legal and ethical for her to become a volunteer, the department decided against it because it could create an optics problem.

The inspector general's office also looked into allegations that they found were not true, including that Lola Zinke received a government cell phone and that a department employee resigned because Zinke asked her to walk his dog, Ragnar, who he often brings to the office. Zinke never asked for his wife to be given a phone, according to the report, and the former department employee said she volunteered to walk the dog and resigned because she did not receive a job she wanted.

Here's my dog Ragnar in the office on my first day. I'm looking forward to meet more Dogs of @Interior on May 5! https://t.co/bXYAcHgjuM pic.twitter.com/4hyojFz8TP

— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) March 23, 2017

The report found that on one occasion Zinke asked his security detail to drive a non-government employee to the airport after they had dinner, but was told not to make the request again and it has not happened since.

A spokeswoman for the House Natural Resources Committee said they are reviewing the report and will continue to monitor the situation.

But Democrats accused the majority of ignoring what they called Zinke's abuse of power.

\"Republicans have known about Secretary Zinke’s scandals for eighteen months and done nothing. Putting Democrats in charge of Congress is the only way to stop these abuses,\" ranking member Raul Grijalva, D-N.M., said in a statement.

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