Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke violated federal ethics rules through his involvement in a land development project in Whitefish, Montana, during the time in which …
Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke violated federal ethics rules through his involvement in a land development project in Whitefish, Montana, during the time in which he served in the Trump administration, a report released Wednesday by the department’s inspector general (IG) revealed. Zinke’s wife, Lola, oversaw the land development deal, known as 95 Karrow, as part of her position as president of the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation (GNVPP). Although he formally stepped down from the board upon his appointment as secretary in 2017, Zinke participated in the deal despite pledging to stop participating in the foundation’s corporate activities, according to the report. Zinke resigned his position as Interior Secretary in December 2018, less than two months after the Interior IG referred his conduct to the Justice Department. GNVPP became involved in the 95 Karrow project, which included the creation of “ a mixed-use development consisting of a hotel, microbrewery, restaurant, and other businesses,” after 95 Karrow, LLC purchased a fourteen acre vacant lot next to GNVPP land. Lola Zinke submitted a letter to 95 Karrow, LLC in September 2017 informing the company that GNVPP would not oppose the development.
