Salty EPA spokesman slams journalist as 'a piece of trash' for doing her job

Okay, everybody, this latest Scott Pruitt scandal has gotten a little out of hand.

When The Atlantic's Elaina Plott reached out for comment from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — you know, the government organization Pruitt is running like his own personal bingo hall — EPA spokesperson Jahan Wilcox told Plott, "You have a great day, you’re a piece of trash.”

Whoooooaaaaaaa there, Jahan.

A bit much, don't you think?

Apparently, Wilcox has had a rough day answering questions about the impending departure of EPA aide Millan Hupp.

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Hupp recently testified to the House Oversight Committee about being at the center of some of Pruitt's biggest scandals and weird missions, most recently the pursuit of a used Trump Hotel mattress and a Chick-Fil-A gig for Pruitt's wife. Hupp departs the EPA staff as of Friday.

And so we return to Wilcox, who called a reporter "a piece of trash" for doing her job — that is to say, not trying to find her boss a swank deal on D.C. rent or a $43,000 soundproof phone booth.

His comment spurred some deep feelings among many journalists for good reason: Wilcox is part of an administration that openly views the free press as the enemy, even as (or because) it uncovers levels of corruption Trump had promised he'd stamp out. It's not the first time Wilcox has been salty with a journalist or tried to shut down press access.

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Wilcox doesn't appear to have answered any further calls or emails for comment on the "trash" line, including those from Mashable. Whether he will or won't respond with another invective is anyone's guess, but it seems fair to assume that no one in the press should expect a Christmas card this year from the EPA.

Then again, Pruitt might just bankrupt the agency before December.