Chu says WH did not contact him on Solyndra loan (Chu lying through his teeth)

Boston Globe ^ | 11/17/2011 | Matthew Daly/AP

[tobyhill]

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Thursday that no one from the White House ever contacted him to make a political decision on a half-billion-dollar loan to a California solar company that later went bankrupt.

Testifying under oath on a widening controversy, Chu said he was unaware of his staff predictions in 2009 that Solyndra was likely to face severe cash-flow problems. He said that market changes which led to a steep decline in the price of solar panels were "totally unexpected."

Solyndra went belly-up after getting the $528 million loan from the government, and Chu told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that he made all decisions involving the loan to the solar-panel manufacturer. He said he made all judgments regarding Solyndra with the best interests of the taxpayer in mind.

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Chu denied he was influenced by a major Obama campaign donor, George Kaiser, an Oklahoma billionaire who invested $400 million in the solar company through an investment vehicle connected to a family foundation. Kaiser has said he played no part in helping Solyndra win the 2009 loan, but emails released last week show he discussed Solyndra with the White House on at least one occasion.

[Baynative]

Was Chu under oath, or just playing for the cameras?

[ken5050]

Under oath, and with NO lawyer next to him...

[OrioleFan]

Not directly. Fox news reported this morning there was a unnamed green czar who worked with Chu to expedite the green loans for Obama. Sanjay Wagle…was one of the principals in Kennedy’s firm who raised money for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. When Obama won the White House, Wagle was installed at the Department of Energy (DOE), advising on energy grants.

[Hoodat]

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that 80% of DOE Green Energy Loans Went to Obama Backers.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Barbara Streisand.

[Signalman]

All that has to be done is to come up with an e-mail showing WH contact with Chu. If Chu is not lying, he’s got nothing to worry about. If he is lying, then he may be facing perjury charges (assuming he was under oath).

[Zathras]

Here’s a list of people who did contact Chu.

http://stealthmode.posterous.com/intel-alumni-urge-secretary-chu-to-move-faste

[tobyhill]

He never said they didn't have contact about the loan but he said the White House never gave him political pressure about the loan which is the lie in itself.

The White House had to have told them to tell Solyndra to hold off till after the elections to announce layoffs.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Lying sack of crap.

[Melchior]

Chu has no more talent for his job than does his boss Barack Obama.

[Baynative]

If an email is found, they should question everyone on the recipient list. They would probably end up getting all of them on perjury and other charges.

Of course, Obama and Holder are immune due to pigmentation.

[Nevermore]

We need a new "I Believe" for the current generation of 'Rat Crooks.
(Kelly's piece was a Classic, and these guys beg the same treatment. If we only had someone of his caliber today...)

[D-fendr]

The bankruptcy came as a surprise to Chu??

The financial disaster of Solyndra was clearly spelled out by the auditors responsible for warning investors. That’s why they couldn’t get investors because they have sense about investing and can read and comprehend.

Chu, the Nobel Prize Winner, is pleading stupidity.

[BitWielder1]

Are there no laws on the books against embezzling taxpayer money?

[I am Richard Brandon]

And “Chu” is a good Amish name - obviously “Not Guilty” of anything.

[Moltke]

Chu said he was unaware of his staff predictions in 2009 that Solyndra was likely to face severe cash-flow problems.

Incompetence personified. In the real world, a boss as clueless as that would get sacked immediately.