Zinke says Trump behind him ’100 percent’ after ‘vicious attacks’

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, facing an ethics probe over land dealings, insisted Wednesday he still has President Donald Trump’s full support. Zinke, after touring the damage from the deadly Camp Fire in Paradise with Gov. Jerry Brown, also told The Sacramento Bee he has no recollection of meeting in 2017 with wealthy Sacramento land baron Angelo Tsakopoulos, as first reported by the Washington Post. Zinke is being investigated on multiple fronts. In what is considered the most serious matter, the Interior Department’s acting inspector general has referred to the Justice Department an investigation into whether the former Montana congressman acted improperly in connection with a land deal in Whitefish, Mont., with the head of oil-services conglomerate Halliburton. As secretary, Zinke oversees oil and gas drilling operations on federal lands. Last week, Trump said he wouldn’t fire Zinke but said, “I’m going to look into any complaints,” according to a Post account. In an interview with The Bee, Zinke said: “The allegations get more outrageous. ... I follow all rules, regulations, procedures and most importantly the law. I talk to the president, he understands. These are vicious attacks.” Zinke said the president backs him “100 percent.”...MORE