washington u.s. environmental protection agency chief scott pruitt recuse several court case pursue agency oklahoma attorney general accord recusal statement pruitt sue environmental agency dozen time oil- gas-producing state top legal officer pledge senate confirmation would step aside ongoing case agency ethics panel require environmental group contend litigation oklahoma attorney general may influence energy company industry group contribute election campaign recusal statement address ethics obligations pruitt say four-page statement date may 4. first report news website obtain statement freedom information act pruitt say would participate one year senate confirmation matter involve four party include oklahoma rule law defense fund public policy group involve republican attorneys general target environmental rule pruitt also recuse dozen pending case involve epa include lawsuits clean power plan case federal appeal district court clean water act expand number federally protect waterways republican president donald trump sign order march undo clean power plan climate change rule impose predecessor democratic president barack obama u.s. environmental chief recuse court case