Jim McElhatton
Articles by Jim McElhatton
Fundraiser no stranger to finance inquiries
A key figure in the federal investigation into widespread campaign irregularities in Washington has twice faced misdemeanor criminal charges over election-law complaints in Maryland, records show. Published March 29, 2012
Solyndra, feds knew risks, official says
The federal government and private investors knew the risks they were taking when they poured money in Solyndra LLC, the California solar panel manufacturer that went bankrupt two years after winning more than a half-billion dollars in federal loan guarantees, according to the company's top official. Published March 27, 2012
Campaign money orders to cease?
Nearly a quarter-million dollars in money orders have helped keep D.C. campaigns flush with cash in recent years, benefiting some of the same city politicians now considering all but banning the donations after a raid on the office of a prominent political patron. Published March 26, 2012
D.C. settlement deal with Thompson raises questions
More than a quarter-million dollars from a legal settlement between D.C. contractor and prolific political fundraiser Jeffrey E. Thompson and the D.C. government went to a favorite charity of Mr. Thompson's that also is a prominent client of his accounting firm, records show. Published March 25, 2012
Gray drops nominee with ties to D.C. contractors
Mayor Vincent C. Gray has withdrawn his nomination of a health care consultant with ties to at least two city contractors to serve as an independent director on the board of the United Medical Center. Published March 22, 2012
D.C. regulators were aware of potential violations
D.C. campaign-finance regulators were alerted long ago about potential violations involving big contributions to city politicians from businesses owned by D.C. contractor Jeffrey E. Thompson. Published March 20, 2012
Hollywood cash finds its way to D.C. campaigns
On the same day last year that employees of D.C. contractor Jeffrey E. Thompson gave big credit card donations to D.C. Council member Vincent B. Orange, so too did a Hollywood producer and his company 3,000 miles away. Published March 19, 2012
Campaign inquiry turns focus to D.C. transportation firm
The federal investigation into widespread D.C. campaign-finance irregularities has moved beyond lawmakers and prominent donors to include a little-known transportation company that doesn't seem to drive many passengers but has delivered campaign cash to city politicians. Published March 18, 2012
Defunct firm still donating to D.C. politicians
RapidTrans Inc., a medical transportation company that gave up its license to drive passengers in 2008 and later lost its incorporation status, continues to deliver one thing: campaign cash to D.C. politicians. Published March 14, 2012
Rand Paul grills ex-auditor on skipping Solyndra in bankruptcy report
The former Treasury Department official who oversaw a review of the Obama administration's energy loan program on Tuesday defended the decision not to review bankrupt Solyndra LLC as part of his audit. Published March 13, 2012
Political contributor skirts limits of D.C. law
Businesses owned for years by prominent D.C. contractor Jeffrey Thompson engaged in a pattern of political giving that appears to run afoul of city campaign finance law, combining to give twice and sometimes three times the maximum donation to city politicians in a single day, records show. Published March 11, 2012
Energy department probes delay of layoff news at Solyndra
The Energy Department's Office of Inspector General is investigating who pushed to delay bad news about federally backed Solyndra LLC until after the November 2010 midterm elections. Published March 8, 2012
Exposer in Stolen Valor case fired
On a tour bus trip to Southern California Edison's Big Creek power plant, event planner Melissa Campbell was passing out snacks to dignitaries when one of them asked her a question that would change both of their lives and make U.S. judicial history. Published March 6, 2012
D.C. Water pays staff bonuses amid plans for rate hike
During a series of public hearings on rate hikes, D.C. Water and Sewer Authority officials were quick to point out that they were doing everything they could to save money for customers, including enacting a pay freeze across management. Published March 4, 2012
Chu: Energy-loan process improving since Solyndra
Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu sought to assure lawmakers Tuesday of improvements in a loan program that became the focal point of criticism after the failure of solar company Solyndra LLC two years after it won a half-billion dollars in federal loan guarantees Published February 28, 2012
Questions arise over fire sale of Solyndra’s assets
Bankrupt solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC is busy selling off assets, but who owns what's left over is hard to say. Published February 27, 2012
Solyndra abandons efforts to go clean and green
Federal officials hailed Solyndra LLC's plan to create clean energy when they awarded the company more than a half-billion dollars in loans, but the solar-panel maker's abrupt closure now threatens to leave behind an environmental mess. Published February 23, 2012
Bonuses given after raises at Solyndra
Several of the nearly two dozen employees at bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra LLC who were approved for bonuses Wednesday had months earlier received pay raises as high as 70 percent, a fact the company never disclosed in its request for bonus cash. Published February 22, 2012
Solyndra bonuses reduced; fired workers irked
Attorneys for solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC say they've reduced by more than $100,000 the amount of bonus money they want to pay a handful of current employees still working for the bankrupt company. Published February 21, 2012
Postal Service to push retirements hard
More than a quarter-million U.S. Postal Service workers are eligible for retirement, and a restructuring plan proposed Thursday relies heavily on getting many of them to quit. Published February 16, 2012
