SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Trump's nominee made it through, but not without last minute controversy. Just the night before the vote, a state judge in Oklahoma ordered Pruitt, that state's attorney general, to release thousands of emails between him and executives from oil and gas companies. Pruitt has refused to release those emails for the last two years.
The Center for Media and Democracy first requested the release of Pruitt's emails in 2014. Pruitt has released over 400 emails of the 3,000 the CMD has requested.
South Dakota's Mike Rounds praised Pruitt's on the U.S. Senate floor, saying the Oklahoman told him that he would use the most current, accurate data and "sound science when making decisions, specifically when it comes to the Renewable Fuel Standard."
Rounds went on to say that the RSF has been successful in South Dakota "encouraging investments and creating jobs in corn ethanol production."
Rounds says Pruitt "understands the importance of corn ethanol to the Midwest."