"Transition: Pruitt's Critics Say Politics Fueled Humane Society Probe"

"In the wake of a tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., in 2013, state Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) warned Oklahomans about a fundraising campaign by 'national animal welfare organizations.'

Pruitt issued a statement saying the campaign's ads 'gave Oklahomans the impression their donations would go to help animals displaced by the storm,' when the money 'may have gone instead to lobbying activities.'

He then launched an investigation into the Humane Society of the United States.

HSUS contends such ads didn't exist and the probe was bogus.

'We never took out any ads in Oklahoma or sent out direct mail or email saying "give us money so we can help the victims of the Moore tornado,"' Humane Society CEO Wayne Pacelle said. 'I went to his office in Oklahoma and explained that. It should have been enough. It should have ended right there.'

But Pruitt's office continued the investigation, quietly dropping it more than two years later, after HSUS sued him for harassment. No charges or evidence of wrongdoing were ever filed against the group."

Ariel Wittenberg reports for Greenwire December 23, 2016.