E-mails>> Solar energy • US
A senior official at the US Energy Department pressed White House analysts to sign a US $535 million loan to California solar energy company Solyndra, even though his wife worked for the failed company’s law firm, as per internal e-mails made public.
The revelation adds new drama to a political battle over the Obama administration’s backing for Solyndra, which has filed for bankruptcy and has been raided by the FBI. The newly disclosed e-mails reveal “a disturbingly close relationship” between the White House, campaign donors and wealthy investors of Solyndra, a senior Congressional Republican told the New York Times.
The e-mails show frequent enquiries from Steven Spinner, who was an adviser to the Energy Department on loans to Solyndra. He also communicated directly with Solyndra officials who were awaiting word from Washington that their loan would be approved.
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