"E-Mail Shows Senior Energy Official Pushed Solyndra Loan"

"WASHINGTON — A senior Energy Department official pushed hard for the government’s $535 million loan to the now-bankrupt California solar energy company Solyndra even after he had disclosed that his wife’s law firm represented the company and he had promised to recuse himself from matters related to the loan application, according to e-mails provided to Congressional investigators by the administration.

The official, Steven J. Spinner, then a senior member of the Energy Department’s loan guarantee oversight office and a 2008 Obama fund-raiser, inquired frequently about the progress of the Solyndra loan, urging the White House budget office to move more quickly on approving it.

He also communicated directly with Solyndra officials who were anxiously awaiting word from Washington that their loan would be approved."

Eric Lipton and John M. Broder report for the New York Times October 7, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Will Solyndra Scandal Spill Over to Scald Nuclear Loan Guarantees?" (Greenwire)

"Emails Raise Fresh Questions On Obama Energy Loan" (Reuters)

Source: NY Times, 10/10/2011