As if the Trump administration needed any more chaos, the head of the U.S. Forest Service is resigning over sex misconduct allegations.
PBS Newshour reports that the head of the U.S. Forest Service, Tony Tooke, is stepping down amid sexual misconduct allegations.
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) March 7, 2018
US Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke is stepping down after allegations of sexual misconduct, and after the PBS @newshour's investigation last week into sexual harassment and retaliation in the Forest Service. He just told employees in an agency-wide email.
— Elizabeth Flock (@lizflock) March 7, 2018
Watch below:
U.S. @forestservice chief Tony Tooke announced tonight he is retiring amid allegations of sexual misconduct. It follows a monthslong @NewsHour investigation of widespread complaints of sexual harassment within the agency and an ongoing agency probe of Tooke’s own behavior. pic.twitter.com/BWf6ZCVVxj
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) March 7, 2018
More from Reuters:
The head of the U.S. Forest Service, Tony Tooke, resigned on Wednesday amid an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct made against him.
“I have been forthright during the review, but I cannot combat every inaccuracy that is reported in the news media,” Tooke said in an email to Forest Service staff. He was named chief of the Forest Service last September.
Tooke said he had “decided that what is needed right now is for me to step down as Forest Service Chief and make way for a new leader that can ensure future success for all employees and the agency.”
The U.S. Agriculture Department, which includes the Forest Service, is conducting the investigation, which, PBS NewsHour reported, centers on Tooke’s relationship with subordinates before he became chief of the agency.
The Forest Service oversees 154 national forests and 20 grasslands, and has about 28,000 permanent employees.
Good luck explaining that to your wife, buddy.