The memo is just 87 words. But in that single paragraph, dated May 1, 2017, the head of Scott Pruitt’s personal security detail made the argument that would underpin dozens of taxpayer-funded, first-class flights for the Environmental Protection Agency administrator in the months that followed. In the memo, obtained by The Washington Post under a public records request, Pasquale “Nino” Perrotta wrote that Pruitt was being recognized more often in public and that those guarding him had noticed “at times lashing out from passengers which occurs while the Administrator is seated in coach with [his personal security detail] not easily accessible to him due to uncontrolled full flights.” As a result, Perrotta wanted a way to better control the environment around the controversial EPA chief. “We believe that the continued use of coach seats for the Administrator would endanger his life,” he wrote, “and therefore respectfully ask that he be placed in either business or first class accommodations.” Agency officials approved the request, and Pruitt soon began racking up hefty travel expenses.