WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Energy Department officials continued efforts to shore up the solar company Solyndra after warnings about the legality of such efforts, e-mails show.
The Washington Post reported that it was given access to the e-mails by a government source it did not identify. The e-mails indicate Mary Miller, an assistant treasury secretary, said changing the terms of a $535 million loan to the California company so investors would be repaid before taxpayers was likely to violate federal law.
The records indicate Steve Spinner -- identified as a stimulus adviser at the Energy Department until he left in September 2010 -- urged approval for the Solyndra loan, even though he had recused himself from the matter because Solyndra was a client of his wife's law firm. The Post said Spinner did not respond to requests for comment.
Energy Department spokesman Damien LaVera said department officials considered the advice from the Department of the Treasury but concluded -- based on advice from "career lawyers in the loan program based on a careful analysis of the statute" -- that the loan was legal.
Solyndra declared bankruptcy this summer and closed down, two years after President Barack Obama visited the company to announce the loan. Republicans in the House of Representatives are investigating the loan.
In August, when company officials said Solyndra needed cash to survive, investors agreed to put up $75 million if they were repaid first. The company closed Aug. 31.
