Solyndra Execs Delay Their Testimony (Shredder Sale at Office Depot!) While DOE Loan Chief Throws Everyone On His Staff Under the Bus

Solargate, also known as the Solyndra Scandal, involves a bizarre $535 million loan by the Obama administration to a doomed "green energy" company. Oh, and did I mention that said "green energy" company was headed by major Obama campaign contributors?

And did I mention that Solyndra received said loan even though everyone knew that said company was doomed from the start?

Jonathan Silver is "Executive Director of the Loans Programs Office for the Energy Department". He was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee today and, under intense questioning, he threw his staff under the bus.

Silver said private investors who loaned $1.1 billion for the Fremont facility were also taken by surprise. He pinned blame for the bankruptcy on more than $20 billion in direct investment by the Chinese government in solar manufacturers who now dominate the industry...

...Republicans also charged that the administration broke the law under the Energy Policy Act, which prohibits the government from subordinating a taxpayer-backed loan to loans by private investors. The administration agreed last fall to restructure the loan and to put taxpayers in line behind an additional $75 million ponied up by private investors...

It turns out that Solyndra's corporate executives have, eh, delayed their testimony before Congress.

Solyndra LLC Chief Executive Officer Brian Harrison and Chief Financial Officer Bill Stover have postponed their previously scheduled congressional testimony until sometime next week. Harrison and Stover were scheduled to testify tomorrow after the company filed for bankruptcy protection following a $535 million U.S. loan guarantee.

Emails obtained by ABC News prove that the White House knew Solyndra was a failed business before it rammed the loan through the approval process. But I'm sure that had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Solyndra's backers were huge Obama campaign contributors.

Jimmy Carter wasted billions on solar programs. Apparently Washington hasn't gotten the message: Stop spending our children's money on bulls*** green energy programs. Schmucks.


Image: GigaOm.