Former Pruitt aide Greenwalt lands at Oklahoma comp commission

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission voted Thursday to hire Sarah Greenwalt, former senior counsel to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, as the agency’s general counsel to act as a legal adviser to the three commissioners.

The newly created role is in line with state reforms enacted in 2014 to ensure compliance at the regulatory level, the commission said Thursday In a statement.

Ms. Greenwalt, who is slated to begin work on June 25, will report directly to commissioners Mark Liotta, Jordan Russell and Megan Tilly, providing counsel for all legal, operational and regulatory concerns of the Oklahoma City-based comp commission. Additionally, she will provide managerial support to the WCC’s counseling division and actively participate in the agency’s legislative efforts, according to the statement.

Ms. Greenwalt most recently was senior counsel to Mr. Pruitt in Washington. Media reports stated she was among those to receive raises without White House approval. The controversy led to two resignations, including that of Ms. Greenwalt, who was given a raise of more than $56,000, which brought her salary to $164,200, according to media reports.

"Sarah Greenwalt brings a broad mix of governmental legal experience,” Mr. Liotta said in the statement. “She has argued cases at the district and appellate courts and State Supreme Court.”