Chu says he did not pressure Solyndra to delay layoff news until after election

{mosads}Documents released by Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee this week suggest that the Energy Department pressured Solyndra to delay a pending layoff announcement until after the midterm election.

Solyndra CEO Brian Harrison emailed the Energy Department in October 2010 to alert officials that he planned to announce layoffs at the solar panel manufacturer on Oct. 28, 2010.

In an Oct. 30, 2010, email, advisers for Argonaut Private Equity, a major investor in Solyndra, said Energy Department officials asked the company to delay the announcement that Solyndra would shutter a manufacturing facility and lay off workers until Nov. 3, one day after the midterm elections.

“They did push very hard for us to hold our announcement of the consolidation to employees and vendors to November 3rd — oddly they didn’t give a reason for that date,” the Argonaut advisers wrote in their email.

Solyndra ultimately announced on Nov. 3, 2010, that it would close a manufacturing facility in Fremont, Calif., and lay off 40 workers. The announcement marked the beginning of a tumultuous period for the company, which ultimately filed for bankruptcy in September after laying off an additional 1,100 workers, setting off a firestorm in Washington.

At the hearing Thursday, Chu faced off against House Republicans, who have launched a months-long investigation into the $535 million Solyndra loan guarantee.

Republicans blasted the Energy secretary for approving the loan guarantee in 2009 and restructuring the loan in February.

Chu took full responsibility for approving the loan guarantee, but also rejected Republican allegations that the decision was influenced by politics.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) called on Chu to hold those responsible for the loan guarantee accountable.

“I hope you will go back in your agency and have some heads roll,” Scalise said. “I hope that somebody’s going to be held accountable.”

Jonathan Silver, head of the Energy Department’s loan program, resigned in early October. Energy Department officials have said Silver’s resignation was not related to the Solyndra debacle.