Critics of Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt have mocked him since learning about his habit of taking first-class flights. As Elizabeth Harrington of the Washington Free Beacon reports, few of the critics note that Pruitt is responding to threats from crackpots.

A significant increase in death threats leveled at Scott Pruitt led to security officials to recommend the Environmental Protection Agency administrator fly first class.

Journalists and liberals have made light of security concerns, mocking Pruitt for following the recommendations from the head of his 24-hour security detail, which was required due to “unprecedented” threats. …

… Politico questioned the need to fly first class in an article Thursday that made no mention of the death threats against Pruitt and his family. …

… A reader had to come to the end of the Politico story to discover that the “threats are so prevalent” against Pruitt that his security detail has to perform a new threat assessment every 90 days.

“EPA instituted 24/7 protection for Pruitt last year, a step up from previous administrators who typically were guarded only when in public or traveling,” the penultimate paragraph of the Politico story reads. …

… The article fails to mention the number of death threats Pruitt and his family have received.

“He has had significantly more threats directed against him,” said Patrick Sullivan, the EPA’s assistant inspector general for investigations. “There’s absolutely no question about it.”

Pruitt told Bloomberg News last year that his family was also being targeted, and security officials said the administrator had received threatening letters and packages delivered to his home.

“The quantity and the volume—as well as the type—of threats are different,” Pruitt said. “What’s really disappointing to me is it’s not just me—it’s family.”

Pruitt recently said he does not make the security decisions but blamed a “toxic” political environment.