Former Consultant for Trump Golf Course Snags EPA Contract
Apr 2, 2018 · by Ilya Marritz
A longtime environmental consultant for Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, N.J., has obtained a federal research contract for a company where he now works, in an example of how business and government mix in the Trump administration.
The consultant, Edward Russo, worked for the Trump Organization for more than a decade, and self-published a book, Donald J. Trump: An Environmental Hero.
More recently, he became the chief executive of the U.S. division of an Israeli company, Water-Gen, which makes devices that extract drinking water from air. In January, Water-Gen signed a research contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, aimed at boosting this technology. The agreement was announced at the end of March, just as Russo was visiting Trump’s Mar a Lago resort in Florida as a guest at an interfaith gathering. While he was there, Russo got a photo with the president, which Water-Gen posted to its Facebook page.
E&E News first reported the connection. E&E reporter Kevin Bogardus says the company won the contract without ever hiring a lobbyist. “But it sounds like they don't need to, because the president of their American division knows the president personally,” Bogardus told WNYC.
When reached by phone, Russo said Water-Gen follows regulations, and his company's technology could save lives. He said no money will be exchanged in the contract with the EPA, but acknowledged that the research could benefit Water-Gen.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Water-Gen executives had at least two meetings with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt last year, after Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate and Trump donor, requested that the agency talk with company.
Russo said Adelson is an informal supporter of Water-Gen, but has no position in the company.
http://www.wnyc.org/story/former-trump-consultant-nj-golf-coursesnags-epa-contract/
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