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Friday, March 29, 2024

Congressman sends scathing letter to White House counsel over Solyndra subpoena

Ruemmler

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a scorching letter to White House counsel Kathyrn Ruemmler Thursday regarding a lack of compliance with the committee's subpoena related to Solyndra documents.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton's letter states that rather than provide the information requested Ruemmler had "unilaterally redefined (and narrowed) the language of the Committee's subpoena."

The subpoena requested documents about the participation of the White House in a loan to the failed energy company.

Upton, R-Mich., further accuses the White House of intentionally excluding documents which are in its possession that relate directly to the committee's inquiry.

"These and other documents already in the Committee's possession clearly indicate that you have numerous other documents in your possession which are responsive to the subpoena, but which have not been produced," the letter states.

"In order for the Committee to complete its investigation of the problems with the loan guarantee program and the related loss of taxpayer dollars, those documents must be produced to the Committee."

Upton wrote that the refusal to make certain employees available to the committee was "simply unacceptable."

"These employees... were closely involved in the approval and review process for the Solyndra loan guarantee, and possess information critical to the Committee's investigation."

The letter concludes with Upton -- and co-signer, Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., chairman of the House Oversight and Investigations Committee -- stating that the refusal to cooperate is "only the latest in a series of attempts to impede this Committee's investigation into the loss of a half a billion dollars of taxpayer funds."

Calls to the White House were not returned in time for publication.

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