White House Press Secretary Jay Carney acknowledged that Solyndra seems to have been discussed during a visit to the White House by investor and President Obama fundraiser George Kaiser, but he noted the meeting took place after the loan was granted and attacked Republicans for continuing with their investigation.
Carney denied that political influence contributed to Solyndra receiving a Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee. “In fact, the meeting that they’re referring to, as I’m sure you’re aware, took place almost a year after the loan was approved — okay?” he told reporters at yesterday’s press briefing. He also noted that the emails revealing that Kaiser did discuss the company with White House officials were not sent by White House staff. He reiterated that point moments later:
Carney makes a more modest claim, in saying that Kaiser never discussed the loan, than he did on September 15th, when he directed reporters (in apparent affirmation) to Kaiser’s claim “that he did not lobby or discuss — he did not lobby administration officials with regard to this, with Solyndra.” Carney indicated at the time that Kaiser visited the White House to discuss “a lot of charitable efforts.”
The Solyndra investigation “is becoming a political football and a partisan effort,” Carney said yesterday.
