Interior Chief Pick Must Disclose Lobbying Ties, Watchdog Says

The U.S. Department of the Interior must produce records of communications between David Bernhardt, President Trump’s nominee to lead the department, and his former clients in the energy and agricultural industries, a March 12 complaint says.

Plaintiff American Oversight, which describes itself as an ethics watchdog group, told the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that the department’s failure to provide such records violates the Freedom of Information Act.

The department hasn’t properly responded to five FOIA requests seeking records related to communications with former clients and members of Congress, compliance with ethics requirements, and costs associated with ...