What has he got to hide? Scott Pruitt's security guards grab and push a female reporter to stop her going to summit on water contamination

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The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday blocked The Associated Press and at least two other news organizations from attending a national summit on harmful water contaminants.

The meeting, convened in Washington by EPA chief Scott Pruitt, was open to invited media only, EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox said. Wilcox said there was no room at the event for an AP reporter.

Some other news outlets were allowed to cover the meeting, and a portion of it was livestreamed.

The environmental-focused news organization E&E News confirmed to the AP that reporter Corbin Hiar was kept out of the meeting. A CNN reporter also was prevented from attending.

Another scandal: Now Scott Pruitt's security guards are accused of grabbing and pushing a female reporter who asked to see a public affairs official

The summit was on a class of chemicals present in dangerous amounts in many water systems around the country. Pruitt told about 200 people at the meeting that dealing with the contaminants is a 'national priority.'

An AP reporter attempted to attend the meeting but was told she was not the invitation list. 

When the reporter asked to speak to an EPA public-affairs person, security guards grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her out of the EPA building.

AP's executive editor Sally Buzbee said: 'The Environmental Protection Agency's selective barring of news organizations, including the AP, from covering today's meeting is alarming and a direct threat to the public's right to know about what is happening inside their government.

'It is particularly distressing that any journalist trying to cover an event in the public interest would be forcibly removed.'

CNN said in a statement that its reporter also was turned away from covering the event 'after multiple attempts to attend.'

The summit was supposed to be about how dealing with a slate of toxic chemicals contaminating some drinking water systems around the country is a national priority.

Pruitt, who drew scrutiny from lawmakers after EPA emails released this month showed that the agency had intervened in the publication of a new government study on the contaminants, convened what he called a national summit on the chemicals.

The chemicals are as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl. Used in some nonstick coatings, in firefighting foam and elsewhere, the chemicals can cause developmental defects and other health problems. 

Authorities say the contaminants are present in dangerous levels in some water systems, including several near military bases and industries.

Pruitt drew questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers last week after emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed an unidentified White House official calling a pending federal toxicological report on the chemical a 'potential public-relations nightmare.'

The emails also revealed EPA officials intervening in the release of the study, which remains unpublished. Politico first reported on the emails.

Pruitt, formerly the Republican attorney general of Oklahoma, invited what the EPA said were 200 people to Tuesday's Washington session on the chemicals.

The people attending represented states, tribes, the chemical industry and other sectors, along with some environmental representatives.

'It's clear this issue is a national priority,' Pruitt said, opening the session.

He pledged to start work toward establishing a legal maximum limit for the contaminants in drinking water systems.

Protestors at a Senate hearing Wednesday morning called on EPA administrator Scott Pruitt to be fired over the multiple scandals at his agency.

The EPA would reach out to communities with drinking water contaminated by the chemicals over the summer, agency officials said.

The EPA is 'very focused upon action,' Pruitt said. 'We want to hear from all of you as we take the next step.'

Environmental groups and some lawmakers have accused Pruitt of meeting more often with industry representatives, conservative political groups and lobbyists than with ordinary people affected by dangers that the EPA regulates.

His security issues however have become his Achilles heel. 

A damaging internal email showed that Pruitt encouraged his motorcade to use flashing lights and sirens to move him quickly through Washington D.C.'s heavy traffic.

Pruitt's motorcade used its sirens to move him quickly when he was running late, such as when he had dinner plans at Le Diplomate, an expensive French restaurant, according to reports.   

An internal email from then-EPA special agent Pasquale 'Nino' Perrotta indicating EPA administrator Scott Pruitt wanted his motorcade to use flashing lights and sirens.

Pruitt is facing dozens of investigations about his time in office, ranging from the cost of his security detail, thousands of dollars spent on first-class travel, the pay raises given to aides, the installation of a $43,000 soundproof phone booth in his office, and the cheap rent of a condo he received that is tied to lobbyists.

Sen. Tom Udall, a Democrat who has called on Pruitt to resign, asked him about reports he liked his motorcade to use the vehicles' flashing lights and sirens to cut through traffic.

'There are policies in place regarding the use of lights' and those were followed, Pruitt said.

But Udall asked him repeatedly if he encouraged the action. 'I don't recall that happening,' Pruitt said.

Udall then disclosed an internal email from then-EPA special agent Pasquale 'Nino' Perrotta indicating Pruitt wanted the sirens used.

The email, sent in February 2017 shortly after Pruitt was confirmed, had the subject line 'Lights and Sirens.' It added 'Btw - Administrator encourages the use.' Perrotta also wrote the agency's justification for Pruitt's first-class travel. He later resigned.

Additionally, a U.S. senator blasted Pruitt for flying first-class because of security reasons, saying no one 'knows who you are.'

Pruitt's team claimed the administrator needed heavy security protection because of death threats.  

But Patrick Leahy, also a Democrat, blasted the agency chief for claiming he needed first class travel for security reasons, saying it was 'silly.'

'What a silly reason you had to fly first class,' Leahy said. 'Nobody even knows who you are.'

 The EPA administrator used a defense he has used in other appearances before lawmakers. He blamed staff and processes for allowing some of incidents to take place.

'I would not make the same decisions again,' he said.

Pruitt also revealed under questioning that he has set up a legal defense fund. 

And he was asked about a report an aide helped Pruitt find a new place to live.

He called the aide 'a longtime friend' who used her 'personal time' to help him. He noted he did not pay her for this service.

'Then that's a gift, that's a violation of federal law,' Sen. Tom Udall said, noting that subordinates of federal officials are prohibited from providing free services.