Jim McElhatton
Articles by Jim McElhatton
Officials for solar firm tell House China subsidies were key to collapse
Former top officials of federally backed Abound Solar told a House subcommittee July 18 that subsidies from China caused the company's collapse, while Republicans pressed a former government loan official about whether he used his personal email account to skirt records laws while discussing clean energy projects. Published July 20, 2012
Spending for another GSA event comes under scrutiny on the Hill
Another General Services Administration conference is coming under scrutiny and this one featured drumsticks, miniature pastries, a violinist and gift clocks instead of mind readers and clowns. Published July 19, 2012
Norton holding on to tainted campaign donations
In sharp contrast with her own Democratic Party's leadership, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton isn't planning with parting with her campaign cash tied to D.C. contractor Jeffrey E. Thompson, a central figure in the fundraising scandal now embroiling D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray. Published July 19, 2012
Officials for solar firm tell House China subsidies were key to collapse
Former top officials of federally backed Abound Solar told a House subcommittee Wednesday that subsidies from China caused the company's collapse, while Republicans pressed a former government loan official about whether he used his personal email account to skirt records laws while discussing clean energy projects. Published July 18, 2012
Not all giving back tainted donor cash
Despite the return by President Obama and the Democratic Party of a tainted $10,000 donation from D.C. fundraiser Jeffrey E. Thompson, dozens of other federal and local campaign committees, Democrat and Republican alike, continue to hold on to tens of thousands of dollars they have received from the contractor now at the center of Mayor Vincent C. Gray's deepening fundraising scandal, records show. Published July 18, 2012
Gray’s fundraiser also aided Norton
D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton had strong words for Mayor Vincent C. Gray last week after a longtime political operative pleaded guilty to raising illegal campaign cash to help Mr. Gray defeat Mayor Adrian M. Fenty in 2010. Published July 16, 2012
Utility gave contract to firm linked to director
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, one of the nation's largest water utilities, gave a six-figure, no-bid contract to an audit firm with ties to one of the commission's own directors, records show. Published July 12, 2012
Defunct insurance firm doled out cash to politicians
Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III hailed Christopher Lawson as an "incredible and experienced" leader last year when he named the Bowie businessman as a director helping to oversee the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). Published July 11, 2012
Despite Supreme Court setback, prosecutors again target D.C. nightclub owner
He made U.S. Supreme Court history, but former D.C. nightclub owner Antoine Jones remains behind bars even after winning a landmark decision and reversal of his drug conviction. Published July 5, 2012
Pepco boss got megawatt pay boost despite problems
Pepco's chief executive, Joseph Rigby, didn't get a salary increase last year because of "customer reliability issues," but he still managed to double his overall compensation, regulatory filings show. Published July 3, 2012
Yet another government-backed solar company turns out the lights
Another government-backed solar energy company has decided to turn out the lights while still owing tens of millions of dollars to U.S. taxpayers. Published June 28, 2012
Landon headmaster’s high pay cited in suit
As the top official at the nonprofit Landon School, an exclusive private day school for about 700 boys on a 75-acre campus in Bethesda, headmaster David Armstrong receives nearly a half-million dollars per year, tax forms show. Published June 26, 2012
P.G.’s consultant on casino has ties to harbor developer
Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III was decidedly cool about the prospect of gambling in Maryland back when he was a state delegate, but he warmed up to the idea in February as a county-commissioned study picked National Harbor as an ideal spot for a casino. Published June 20, 2012
Alcohol plays role in reports involving the Secret Service
One U.S. Secret Service special agent drank too much alcohol and got caught after a minor traffic accident. Another agent got nabbed after driving into a telephone pole. Yet another got arrested after getting stuck in a ditch. Published June 18, 2012
IRS lien dogging D.C. Council member
D.C. Council member Michael A. Brown serves on a powerful finance committee overseeing the expenditure of billions in local and federal tax dollars, but the at-large independent lawmaker is facing renewed questions about his own tax liabilities. Published June 14, 2012
D.C. reformer meets with lobbyists he sought to curtail
D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie won office last month on a platform of restoring ethics to city government, swearing off so-called "bundled contributions" and eliminating pay-to-play politics. Published June 13, 2012
GSA: Vegas attendee not in on discipline
General Services Administration officials have been quick to point out that they are taking strong disciplinary action against those responsible for a lavish $823,000 Las Vegas conference funded by taxpayers that featured a red-carpet party, magic shows and in-room parties. Published June 12, 2012
Top GSA official tried to hide report on Vegas bash
A top administrator at the General Services Administration who worked on President Obama's presidential transition team sought to keep secret the agency report that uncovered massive waste at a lavish taxpayer-funded GSA conference in Las Vegas, records show. Published June 5, 2012
Entertainer’s fee at lavish GSA bash OK if service billed as speech
The well-publicized hiring by the General Services Administration (GSA) of a mind reader at a lavish Las Vegas conference may not have been improper after all. Published May 30, 2012
Suspended GSA executive back on the job
More than a month after he was put on leave when a video surfaced showing him joking about the lavish spending — $823,000 — at a taxpayer-funded General Services Administration conference in Las Vegas, a top official at the agency has quietly returned to his job. Published May 29, 2012
