EPA’s use of secret email addresses was widespread: report -- By Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times

EPA employees use of their own private email accounts to conduct government business was rampant among top-level officials, according to according to a new report Thursday from Senate Republicans that accused the agency's own internal watchdog of botching an investigation.

Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said their findings call into question the work of the EPA's inspector general, who in September issued a report clearing the EPA of wrongdoing in the email scandal.

But the GOP, in a new memo, said it has learned of at least 17 current and former EPA employees, including top leadership, who used their private email accounts, seemingly violating the spirit if not the actual wording of sunshine rules.

In fact, the Republicans said one of those officials, EPA Region 9 Administrator Jared Blumenfeld, lied to the inspector general when he denied he used his private email for agency business.

Overall, Republicans took issue with three different IG investigations, and also accused the watchdog of breaking protocol in refusing to brief the GOP on an investigation before releasing the findings.

Republicans said those instances hint at "a lack of transparency and potential bias" on the part of the watchdog.

"EPW Republicans believe it is time for Congress to have more scrutiny over what is going on in the IG's office at EPA," the GOP said in its memo.

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