washington democrats u.s. senate environment panel wednesday ask president-elect donald trump choice head environmental protection agency disclose tie energy industry ahead confirmation hear early next year six senators send letter scott pruitt oklahoma attorney general lead several lawsuits obama administration epa block environmental rule ask list connections energy company weigh whether influence ability run agency conduct say ability lead epa manner behold special secret interest subject expect receive full air confirmation hear senators write letter senators raise concern 2014 new york time report find pruitt policy position oklahoma top attorney reflect close tie devon energy corp. part pruitt tell oklahoman newspaper devon energy constituent represent company make people aware regulatory overreach fracking senators also note pruitt involvement rule law defense fund say support initiatives billionaire industrialist koch brothers oppose epa climate change regulations ask pruitt submit detail connections contributions fund communications fund list federal state legislation regulations fund take position on confirmation process start responses committee question hear opportunity dispel notion advocacy undertake environmental issue attorney general oklahoma direct benefit energy industry senators write senators send letter rhode island sheldon whitehouse former democratic presidential candidate bernie sanders vermont oregon jeff merkley new jersey cory booker massachusetts ed markey maryland ben cardin rule law defense fund spokesman jordan russell accuse democratic senators launch politically motivate attack organization take position issue healthcare federalism say donor confidentiality uphold supreme court unfortunate certain democrat senators appear will trample first amendment right order score cheap political point say senators ask trump epa chief pick disclose energy industry tie