The Donald Trump administration's EPA has dropped a case against private prison operator Geo Group, waiving up to $4 million in potential fines for toxic disinfectant violations at an immigration facility. This decision follows over $4 million in donations from Geo Group to Trump and Republican leadership, raising concerns about political intervention and quid pro quo.
EPA drops case against prison company that has donated heavily to Trump
Donald TrumpUS Environmental Protection AgencyUnited StatesUS prisonsUS immigration
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The Donald Trump administration's EPA has dropped a case against private prison operator Geo Group, waiving up to $4 million in potential fines for toxic disinfectant violations at an immigration facility. This decision follows over $4 million in donations from Geo Group to Trump and Republican leadership, raising concerns about political intervention and quid pro quo.
Trending- 1 March 2021: EPA cites Geo Group for disinfectant violations.
- 2 2022-2023: Geo Group uses Halt disinfectant at Adelanto facility.
- 3 June 2024: Geo Group fights charges in administrative law court.
- 4 After election: EPA and DOJ drop the case against Geo Group.
- 5 Ongoing: Civil lawsuit against Geo Group regarding HDQ Neutral continues in federal court.
- Geo Group avoids up to $4 million in fines
- Raises questions about political influence and corruption
- Potential health risks for employees and detainees from toxic disinfectant
- Increased scrutiny on private prison operators and their political ties
What: The Trump administration's EPA dropped a case against Geo Group, a private prison operator, regarding violations for using a toxic disinfectant at an immigration facility, potentially waiving up to $4 million in fines. This occurred after Geo Group made over $4 million in political donations to Donald Trump and Republican leadership.
When: March 2021 (EPA cited Geo), 2022-2023 (disinfectant use), June 2024 (Geo fought charges), after the election (case dismissed).
Where: Adelanto, California (immigration facility), United States (federal government, EPA, DOJ, political donations).
Why: Critics allege the case was dropped due to political intervention and the significant financial donations made by Geo Group to Donald Trump and Republican campaigns, suggesting a quid pro quo. Geo Group claims the allegations were baseless.
How: The EPA and DOJ changed course on the enforcement action against Geo Group, leading to the dismissal of the case. This decision is seen as highly unusual by former EPA officials and government transparency advocates, especially given Geo Group's substantial political contributions.