WASHINGTON – A US House of Representatives committee controlled by the Republican Party has authorised subpoenas for internal White House communications in a move that may presage a major confrontation with President Barack Obama.
The search for information concerns an alternative energy company, Solyndra LLC, and a $535 million federal loan guarantee. The subpoenas may provoke a fight over executive privilege.
The energy and commerce committee investigations panel voted 14 to nine yesterday to compel the release of Obama administration documents over objections from Democrats, who said the action was unjustified, politically motivated and “a fishing expedition”.
Solyndra filed for bankruptcy protection on September 6th, days after shutting its operation and dismissing 1,100 workers. Its collapse sparked investigations by Congress, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and watchdogs at the Energy and Treasury departments.
Republicans said compliance with their requests had been slow and incomplete and the administration had “put up roadblocks at every turn”. – (Bloomberg)