Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen has finished his temporary job for the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency.
The Bellingham Herald reports that his 120-day position ended May 20.
Ericksen, a Republican from Ferndale, was hired shortly after the inauguration and during the 120-day period worked as both a state senator and a federal employee.
“The people of the 42nd Legislative District and the people of Washington state will benefit from the work that was done,” Ericksen told The Bellingham Herald in a statement.
Ericksen’s dual roles drew questions about ethics, as he was frequently absent and continued to draw a state salary for his work as state lawmaker, while records showed he was working essentially full-time and making a six-figure salary for the Trump administration.
Ericksen repeatedly said he did not know how much he was being paid for his EPA work, even after EarthFix obtained records of his paychecks via the Freedom of Information Act.
In February and in March, it was reported Ericksen was being considered for a permanent job as the regional director of the EPA’s Pacific Northwest region.
Ericksen has said he would resign from the Washington Legislature if he took a permanent position with the Trump administration.
Copyright 2020 EarthFix.
