Lee Zeldin made significant income from op-eds attacking climate policies while being nominated for the EPA by Trump
Zeldin’s financial disclosure shows he’s been cashing in big time since leaving Congress after his failed run for governor in 2022. He set up a consulting firm and got involved in conservative political advocacy, which has really paid off. Since the start of 2023, he’s reported a total income of $775,000 and between $1 million and $5 million in dividends from his consulting business.
He’s also pulled in $144,999 from America First Works, a pro-Trump nonprofit, plus $65,500 from paid speeches and $15,000 from a group called Plymouth Union Public Research. And let’s not forget his lucky streak at the casinos, where he won nearly $46,000 over the last two years.
His disclosure reveals he’s been busy with speaking engagements, earning over $10,000 for some appearances. He’s also received payments from Fox News and other media outlets for using their studios. Zeldin’s op-eds on climate issues are particularly interesting since he could soon be in charge of the agency that oversees environmental policies.
In one notable op-ed, he was paid $25,000 to write about how Congress should investigate ESG practices, comparing it to the actions of disgraced crypto figure Sam Bankman-Fried. He also earned $10,000 for another op-ed criticizing New York’s climate policies and calling for an end to the fracking ban.
Overall, Zeldin reported $120,500 in payments for his op-eds, although it’s unclear who the original clients were. If confirmed as the next EPA head, he’s agreed to divest from his consulting business, with his confirmation hearing set for January 16.
