Obama Administration Caught Trying to Cover the Tracks of a Stimulus Loan for a Solar Firm Connected to George Miller

SPIN CYCLE: The Democrats touted taxpayer-guaranteed loans as what the stimulus “is all about”:

“‘This announcement today is part of the unprecedented investment this Administration is making in renewable energy and exactly what the Recovery Act is all about,’ said Vice President Biden.” (Press Release, “Vice President Biden Announces Finalized $535 Million Loan Guarantee for Solyndra,” Office of the Vice President, 9/04/09)

RINSE CYCLE: Obama Administration officials changed a previously issued press release for the loan program to remove the name of a controversial loan recipient exposed for being tied to the family of Nancy Pelosi’s closest ally:

“I just want to share with you some odd stuff we found in looking through the Department of Energy press releases in that loan guarantee program that Solyndra has been a part of. That’s been such a controversial story. We’ve been combing through the press releases. And, if you look at what we’ve found, it looks like somebody over at the Department of Energy has gone back and retroactively changed some of the press releases. Start with this April 12, 2011 press release which said the Department of Energy was issuing a $1.187 billion loan guarantee that was sponsored by SunPower Corporation, the project in question. Now look at the way that has been revised. The date on this is still April 12th, 2011, but now the press release up on this loan programs office web site at the DOE says the program was sponsored by NRG Energy, an entirely separate company.”

“But Carl, I’ve got to tell you, making changes to previously issued press releases is a little bit unusual in this town or anywhere else, and that’s why we’re flagging it for you today.” (Eamon Javers, “Dept. of Energy Revises History,” CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” 10/19/2011)

Rep. George Miller (D-CA) is Nancy Pelosi’s “Closest Ally”

“‘The fact is, Nancy Pelosi is the single most effective member of Congress, period,’ said Rep. George Miller of California, Pelosi’s closest ally in the House.” (John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen, “Nancy Pelosi to Run for Minority Leader,” Politico, 11/05/2010)

Miller’s Son is a Lobbyist for SunPower

“But, Miller failed to mention how his son, George Miller IV, is SunPower’s top lobbyist in California. Miller’s son was pushing for the $1.2 billion loan guarantee taxpayers are on the hook for now.” (Matthew Boyle, “Solar company with $1.2 billion taxpayer loan guarantee, political connections exhibits signs of financial trouble,” The Daily Caller, 10/12/2011)

Miller Wrote a Letter to the Energy Department on SunPower’s Behalf, and Toured the Company With Obama’s Interior Secretary

“The elder Miller, who joined Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on a tour of SunPower’s R&D plant in Richmond last year, did write a letter to the Energy Department supporting the company’s loan guarantee application. (Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross, “Changing Faces of Oakland Mayor Jean Quan,” San Francisco Chronicle, 10/16/2011)