'All options' on table in Solyndra probe

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The White House needs to come clean on bankrupt solar energy company Solyndra to ensure such "gross incompetence" won't happen again, a lawmaker said.

House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee accuse the White House of thwarting their investigation into the bankruptcy of Solyndra, which secured a $535 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Energy Department.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House committee, said the White House was "refusing" to hand over any more documents or let investigators question key staff members.

"Whether the Solyndra mess is the result of crony capitalism or gross incompetence, American taxpayers deserve answers as well as the peace of mind that Congress will ensure it never happens again," Upton said in a statement.

Upton's committee said it was prepared to "pursue all options" to force the administration's hands on releasing more Solyndra documents.

The White House said Republican leaders are using an investigation into the Solyndra bankruptcy for political gain. Energy Department officials had defended the decision to back the loan, which was vetted by the administration of President George W. Bush.