Subpoenas for Solyndra execs, say… Democrats?
posted at 4:05 pm on September 23, 2011 by Jazz Shaw
In case you missed any of the details on the developing Solyndra scandal, be sure to catch up with Tina’s video and summary post from earlier today. And glancing over the most recent news, it appears that some of the Democrats in Congress have been watching it as well. Otherwise, it’s hard to imagine why Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) would suddenly be leaning toward issuing subpoenas in the case.
Democrats would back a GOP subpoena to compel testimony from executives at government-backed solar firm Solyndra who plan to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights at a hotly anticipated oversight hearing tomorrow, according to the party’s senior member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Addressing the decision by Solyndra CEO Brian Harrison and CFO Bill Stover to decline to answer lawmakers’ questions about their company’s three-week-old Chapter 11 filing — six months after the Department of Energy agreed to restructure its half-billion-dollar federal loan guarantee — Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said yesterday that panel Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) had further options at his disposal.
“There are things he can do, subpoenas he could issue” to secure sought-after testimony from Solyndra executives, Waxman told E&E Daily. “We’d support it.”
Maybe it’s just me, but it certainly looks like there’s a whole lot of butt covering going on in Washington these days. Some of these folks appear to be positioning themselves to be on the right side of history before a bunch of questions begin coming up which include phrases like, “what did he know and when did he know it?”
It’s one thing to be unaware that all of this was going on, but as the old rule in politics teaches us, it’s always the coverup that gets you more than the actual deed. With Solyndra executives doing their best mobster imitation and taking the 5th, (perfectly legal, of course) they’re leaving the worst possible impression of the White House in the eyes of the public. If any of the President’s allies do anything at this point to give the impression that they’re hindering an investigation or facilitating a coverup, they could well find themselves having to fall on their swords later on. (Assuming that this turns out to be anywhere near as bad as it’s looking so far.)
But no matter the motivation, when we see members from both parties lining up to identify a potential problem and moving to vigorously investigate it, it’s a hopeful sign, no? Which brings us to our exit question: could this be one of those rare cases where they system actually *gasp* works? Naw… must just be my natural streak of optimism showing again. (/sarc)
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Do the dems think this is their best way to get Obama to not see re-election?
Hmmmm.
portlandon on September 23, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Holder must have cleaned up the place real well.
Sonosam on September 23, 2011 at 4:10 PM
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Knucklehead on September 23, 2011 at 4:11 PM
They’re just trying to get ahead of this sh*tstorm.
HornetSting on September 23, 2011 at 4:11 PM
They were hacked.
John the Libertarian on September 23, 2011 at 4:14 PM
Where do I send the “Thank You!” card…?
Seven Percent Solution on September 23, 2011 at 4:21 PM
“We were with you guys all along!”
/
CurtZHP on September 23, 2011 at 4:23 PM
There is just something about Solyndra’s logo… It is almost like if you take the sun rays and move them just a bit lower within that “O”?
/Just sayin’
Key West Reader on September 23, 2011 at 4:26 PM
“what did he know and when did he forget it?”
J_Crater on September 23, 2011 at 4:26 PM
I think that, and I think there is no way, any dem can come out of this smelling like a rose. They know that too. Also, it’s very possible some Dems, like Waxman, and being from Cali, might know more than they let on about this, and this is his way of covering his arse.
capejasmine on September 23, 2011 at 4:32 PM
Only for appearance sake.
Speakup on September 23, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Look at it this way, the Democrats would much rather everyone focus this ‘good’ scandal instead of the “other” one with It’s attendant body count, violation of international and subversion of our founding documents.
Yeah, this one almost makes the El Presidente Downgrade regime of look good by comparison – sort of.
Chip on September 23, 2011 at 4:39 PM
And yet, I just went to CNN.com and searched “Solyndra”. It says Do you mean “Sondra”?
And then lists an Oprah story and other things that are unrelated.
MSNBC actually has a story on it, which is odd, because it is MSNBC and they are usually worse that CNN.
jeffn21 on September 23, 2011 at 4:55 PM
Ya think? And evidently Henry “Green” Waxman thinks he’s gonna make points leading the charge. Waxman, like Frank and Waters are a day late and a dollar short.
GarandFan on September 23, 2011 at 5:02 PM
Waxman may be speaking only for himself, and not all the Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Since Republicans have majorities on all House committees, the Democrats can’t block subpoenas anyway, but Waxman probably doesn’t want to get criticized for trying to “cover up” for the Obama White House.
What everybody knows so far is: The White House fast-tracked a half billion loan to a company owned by a major Obama campaign donor, who got his money back before the taxpayers, the company went bankrupt, over 1,000 people lost their jobs, the FBI raided the place, and the company executives are taking the Fifth.
Waxman has a big enough nose to smell a ‘rat here!
Steve Z on September 23, 2011 at 5:08 PM
This is an attempt to paint Solyndra as liars to let Obama off the hook. They are trying to say “Hey the DOE was mislead they were told things were better at the company”.
Solyndra goes under the bus.
William Amos on September 23, 2011 at 5:22 PM
The WH meetings were with Valerie Jarrett, I read. This could be the one that takes down the Puppet Mistress.
perries on September 23, 2011 at 5:22 PM
LMAO….these days???
That’s been the cornerstone of this admin….the MSM (their major “but coverer”) is finally starting to crack under the strain of the spectacular coverage by alternative media.
The MSM has lost so friggin’ much power over the course of the Obama Admin.
We truly live in amazing times.
Tim_CA on September 23, 2011 at 5:30 PM
My guess is the Dems are hoping for some big donations from these Solyndra execs golden parachute to help the problem go away… No donations — case moves forward.
drfredc on September 23, 2011 at 5:41 PM
And the taxpayers and investors have lost so friggin much money over the course of this administration too.
We live in disgusting times.
scalleywag on September 23, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Given the quotes I’ve read from Waxman I’m betting they’re going to try and frame this all on the Solyndra execs. The narrative would be that the Fed was acting responsibly based on the financial forecasts Solyndra submitted to the DoE.
Then it will just be a matter of how motivated the execs are to bring everyone down with them and what evidence they have to support their claims.
hisfrogness on September 23, 2011 at 6:01 PM
Tru dat. One of the biggest driving forces of the phenomenom.
Tim_CA on September 23, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Ding!
roy_batty on September 23, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Speaking of logos, here’s O’s new one
dont taze me bro on September 23, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Let the subpoenas roll. Wake up, Upton. There ought to be a law if you take govt money you can’t invoke the 5th.
Kissmygrits on September 23, 2011 at 6:46 PM
Dirty solar.
Got find energy sources that are financially clean and stable.
seven on September 23, 2011 at 6:46 PM
Amos and hisfrogness are right on the money. The Dems will attempt to paint the Solyndra execs as evil, sophisticated con men that were so evilishly evil that the fine souls in the WH and DOE were swindled!!
They are firing up a giant bus to ahniliate these guys and paint themselves as “warriors for the middle class.”
Moose Dung on September 23, 2011 at 6:46 PM
Since the FBI has all their business and private computers, I dount there is any evidence of wrongdoing left.
Akzed on September 23, 2011 at 6:54 PM
I don’t know if that’s going to be such a great argument – “we were swindled/hoodwinked by those tricky Solyndra crooks, although we sat in on their board meetings and had access to their financials”. Would these be the kind of smart administration we’d want negotiating with the Russians, Europeans, Ahmadinnerjacket, etc? I can imagine some great campaign ads if they try to say Solyndra tricked them.
PatMac on September 23, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Note to Obama–At some point you’ve made too many enemies.
txhsmom on September 23, 2011 at 7:46 PM
I agree. That is just downright creepy!
Susanboo on September 23, 2011 at 8:13 PM
When you’ve lost Henry Waxman…
Khun Joe on September 23, 2011 at 8:33 PM
Folks comeon folks this scandal is at a point where SOMEBODY has to take the blame. The democrats have in the past tried to cling to sinking ships like the Unions in SC but should we be surprised when they decide that it is “under the bus” time for somebody and unless they want to be there too they better look like prosecutors and not defendents.
Conan on September 23, 2011 at 9:45 PM
The problem will be the government bean counters told Obama to the day when Solyndra would go bankrupt, and they were right!
DSchoen on September 24, 2011 at 1:21 AM
Investgations that let you hide the truth are a great cover up tool as long as no Deep Throat shows up. Are there any closet conservatives left in this Administration?
KW64 on September 24, 2011 at 8:19 AM
I smell a rat (that looks like Waxman). Me thinks Waxman’s call for subpoenas is his attempt to be able to ask innocuous questions and paint a rosier picture of Solyndra’s heroic efforts to out do China and jump to the forefront of ‘green’ energy and create more jobs for Americans. He’s already criticized the Pubbies for being too hard in the questioning of Solyndra execs just on the pleading the 5th responses. He’ll try to put lipstick on a pig!!!
Bob in VA on September 24, 2011 at 9:58 AM
The Fifth Ammendment – the only part of the Constitution that liberals support.
virgo on September 24, 2011 at 11:48 AM