FBI agents executed search warrants Thursday morning at the headquarters of California solar firm Solyndra, which received a $535 million loan from the federal government before filing for bankruptcy last week.
Agents executed the search warrants at the company's headquarters in Fremont as part of a joint operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and the Office of Inspector General, FBI spokesman Peter Lee said.
Lee told FoxNews.com that "multiple search warrants" were executed but said he could not provide details on what prompted the investigation.
"Everything’s under seal," he said.
The investigation comes one week after the company laid off 1,100 workers and filed for bankruptcy. The solar-panel manufacturer is now being sued by workers who abruptly lost their jobs.
Solyndra LLC was once touted by President Obama as a beneficiary of his administration's economic policies.
The company was held up as the model for government investment in green technology. In addition to the $535 million loan guarantee, it received visits from the president and other state and federal officials.
"I appreciated the chance to tour your plant and to see the incredible, cutting-edge solar panels that you're manufacturing, but also the process that goes into the manufacturing of these solar panels," Obama said while visiting the firm in Fremont on May 26, 2010.
"It is just a testament to American ingenuity and dynamism and the fact that we continue to have the best universities in the world, the best technology in the world, and most importantly the best workers in the world. And you guys all represent that," he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...nts-at-california-solar-firm-touted-by-obama/
Will Obama use this as an example of how he plans to create more green jobs during his speech tonight. Will this be Obama's downfall, SolarGate?
Agents executed the search warrants at the company's headquarters in Fremont as part of a joint operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Energy and the Office of Inspector General, FBI spokesman Peter Lee said.
Lee told FoxNews.com that "multiple search warrants" were executed but said he could not provide details on what prompted the investigation.
"Everything’s under seal," he said.
The investigation comes one week after the company laid off 1,100 workers and filed for bankruptcy. The solar-panel manufacturer is now being sued by workers who abruptly lost their jobs.
Solyndra LLC was once touted by President Obama as a beneficiary of his administration's economic policies.
The company was held up as the model for government investment in green technology. In addition to the $535 million loan guarantee, it received visits from the president and other state and federal officials.
"I appreciated the chance to tour your plant and to see the incredible, cutting-edge solar panels that you're manufacturing, but also the process that goes into the manufacturing of these solar panels," Obama said while visiting the firm in Fremont on May 26, 2010.
"It is just a testament to American ingenuity and dynamism and the fact that we continue to have the best universities in the world, the best technology in the world, and most importantly the best workers in the world. And you guys all represent that," he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...nts-at-california-solar-firm-touted-by-obama/
Will Obama use this as an example of how he plans to create more green jobs during his speech tonight. Will this be Obama's downfall, SolarGate?