Trump’s EPA Enforcement Nominee Pressed on Political Influence

Senate Democrats on Wednesday tried to connect the White House’s pick to lead EPA enforcement to a private prison contractor, alleged to be a major donor to the Trump administration, whose environmental case was recently dropped.

But Jeffrey Hall, a Justice Department veteran now serving as an Environmental Protection Agency adviser, denied any political involvement in the case against GEO Group Inc. and said the decision to abandon it was based only on the facts and the law.

If confirmed, Hall would lead the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance. He told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ...