HIS DECISION TO NOT BAN A 
HARMFUL PESTICIDE.
CNN'S RENE MARSH HAS MORE.
>> Reporter: THE ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTION AGENCY WITH 
ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT PRUITT AT 
THE HELM IS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
WITH AGENCY TALKS WHO FEEL THE 
AGENCY AND THEIR LEADER HAVE 
OVERSTEPPED THEIR BOUNDS.
>> THE SCIENCE MUST BE 
INDEPENDENT OF POLITICS AND MUST
BE ROBUST.
>> Reporter: LAST MONTH, 
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST AND 
RETIRED PROFESSOR TESTIFIED ON 
CAPITOL HILL.
E-MAILS OBTAINED BY CNN SHOW EPA
ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT PRUITT'S 
CHIEF OF STAFF, RYAN JACKSON 
PUSHED TO INFLUENCE HER 
TESTIMONY.
>> MY PERSPECTIVES AND 
STATEMENTS ARE MINE ALONE.
>> Reporter: THE RETIRED 
PROFESSOR IS ALSO THE CHAIRWOMAN
OF THE EPA'S SCIENCE REVIEW 
BOARD THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE 
IN THE WORK THE AGENCY DOES.
EPA DISMISSED ABOUT 8 OF 19 
SCIENTISTS ON THE BOARD TWO 
WEEKS BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL 
HEARING.
E-MAILS SHOW THAT JACKSON PUSHED
FOR THE PROFESSOR'S DISMISSAL.
SAYING ATTACHED ARE TALKING 
POINTS WHICH WE HAVE USED 
INTERNALLY TO ADVISE WHAT WE ARE
SIMPLY DOING TO REVIEW 
APPLICANTS."
>> WHENEVER WORDS ARE PUT IN THE
MOUTH OF SOMEBODY BY THE 
ADMINISTRATION IS A RED FLAG FOR
ME.
>> Reporter: SWACHAMMER TOLD CNN
SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT
THE CHIEF OF STAFF WAS ASKING OF
HER.
AN ANTICIPATE SPOKESWOMAN TOLD 
CNN IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR THE 
OFFICE OF COUNCIL AND THE CHIEF 
OF STAFF TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR
AN EPA EMPLOYEE TESTIFYING IN 
FRONT OF CONGRESS.
AND TO CLARIFY IF THEY'RE SPEAK 
EGG AS AN INDIVIDUAL, RATHER 
THAN ON BEHALF OF AGENCY.
WITNESSES TESTIFYING 
INDEPENDENTLY AND NOT ON BEHALF 
OF AN AGENCY ARE SUPPOSED TO 
SHARE THEIR OWN OPINIONS NOT 
GOVERNMENT TALKING POINTS.
BUT E-MAILS SHOW JACKSON TRIED 
TO INFLUENCE THE TESTIMONY, EVEN
AFTER HE WAS TOLD SWACHACKER 
WO
WOULD TESTIFY AS A PRIVATE 
CITIZEN.
AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY EPA ACTION
RAISING CONCERNS.
CNN HAS LEARNED ADMINISTRATOR 
SCOTT PRUITT WAS SCHEDULED TO 
MEET WITH THE CEO OF DOW 
COMPANY, A COMPANY THAT MAKES 
PESTICIDES.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST 
PURPOSED ADMINISTRATION SINCE 
THE FOUNDING FATHERS.
>> Reporter: THE MEETING WAS 
SCHEDULED JUST WEEKS BEFORE 
PRUITT REVERSED COURSE.
IT'S BEEN LINKED TO SCIENTIST 
STUDIES IN BRAIN DEFECTS IN 
CHILDREN.
IT'S BEEN A PESTICIDE USED SINCE
1965 PRUITT SAID ITS IMPACT 
REMAINS UNRESOLVED.
>> WHEN AN AGENCY SEEMS TO BE 
TALKING IN FAVOR OF AN INDUSTRY 
PROVIDING ACCESS, EVEN 
DISTORTING DECISION MAKING TO 
BENEFIT SPECIAL INTEREST, THAT'S
WHEN YOU START TO GET INTO THE 
QUESTION, HEY, IS THIS ETHICAL 
OR NOT.
>> Reporter: AN EPA 
