Jim McElhatton

FBI raids solar panel company hailed by Obama

FBI agents on Thursday executed search warrants at the California headquarters of Solyndra LLC, which was awarded more than $500 million in federal stimulus loans in 2009 to make solar panels in what the Obama administration called part of an aggressive effort to put more Americans to work and end U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Published September 8, 2011

Prominent scientist pleads guilty to attempted espionage

Stewart Nozette, once a prominent scientist for NASA who served on the Space Council under President George H.W. Bush, pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted espionage, a case that attracted widespread notice but began as a seemingly routine fraud investigation. Published September 7, 2011

Obama-backed energy firm goes bankrupt, even with stimulus

When Energy Secretary Stephen Chu announced a half-billion dollars in federal stimulus loans to solar panel maker Solyndra, he called the move part of an aggressive effort to put more Americans to work and end U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Published September 6, 2011

Words from grave wanted as evidence

Crystal Washington was fatally shot more than two years ago, but her words still could loom large in an upcoming federal conspiracy trial. Published September 5, 2011

Justice nominee keeps names of 11 clients secret

Michael E. Horowitz, President Obama's nominee as the Justice Department's top watchdog, has earned more than $4 million since last year as an attorney representing the likes of Pfizer Inc., Dow Chemical Co. and Cablevision Systems Corp. But he is keeping the identities of nearly a dozen other clients secret on newly filed ethics forms. Published September 1, 2011

9/11 privacy board fails to meet

An independent oversight board recommended by the 9/11 Commission to ensure that national security policies do not infringe on Americans' civil liberties has remained dormant for years, raising concerns among watchdogs that a crucial Constitution safeguard does not exist. Published August 30, 2011

Maryland political donor pleads guilty

A prominent Maryland businessman, who has given generously to Republican and Democrats alike over the years, pleaded guilty to felony charges that he embezzled millions of dollars from one of the nation's largest tire companies. Published August 29, 2011

For King, acquittal was a triumph of justice that changed history

Edgar Dyer, a university administrator in South Carolina, was reading his hometown newspaper's coverage of Martin Luther King Jr. Day about 10 years ago when he noticed something unusual in a timeline of key events in King's life. Published August 25, 2011

Fed health regulators at risk of conflict of interest

Inspectors are warning that federal health regulators are in danger of unwittingly violating conflict of interest laws because of a lack of documentation on conflict of interest waivers. Published August 25, 2011

Ties to coal industry rise as issue for Allen

When the Environmental Protection Agency announced new smokestack standards for coal-burning power plants this summer, former Virginia Gov. George Allen, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, was quick to oppose the move. Published August 24, 2011

Undersecretary nominee at State Department returns to revolving door

For those seeking an example of the revolving door between government and the private sector at the State Department, one need look no further than President Obama's recent nominee for the position of undersecretary for political affairs. Published August 21, 2011

Suit against FEC challenges probe of Fincher’s campaign finances

Weeks after the Federal Election Commission closed a campaign finance probe of Rep. Stephen Lee Fincher, Tennessee Republican, a political rival is suing the regulatory agency for failing to enforce federal law. Published August 16, 2011

Union founder’s legal woes are mounting

Four years ago, Caleb A. Gray-Burriss, founder of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers, insisted he had the support of his members amid a federal investigation into his handling of pension dues and health-benefit funds. But since then, Mr. Gray-Burriss' legal woes have gotten worse. Published August 14, 2011

National secret: Obama’s role in ‘panda diplomacy’ with China

Not long before the National Zoo announced that Washington's most beloved resident — the panda Tai Shan — was heading to China in December 2009, a secret plan took hold halfway around the world for the National Zoo to be able to hold on to the bear just awhile longer. Published August 11, 2011

Board of governors official resigns after real estate flap

Alan Kessler, longtime member of the the Board of Governors for the U.S. Postal Service, resigned last month just weeks after an investigation concluded that he pressured postal officials in a real estate transaction involving a personal friend. Published August 8, 2011

Obama opens ‘revolving door’ for Defense nominee

When President Obama nominated former Raytheon lobbyist William J. Lynn III as deputy defense secretary early in his administration, critics railed that the move clashed with Mr. Obama's campaign pledge to close the revolving door between government and the defense industry. Published August 4, 2011

Madoff probe figure gets cash reward

The Securities and Exchange Commission gave a cash bonus to a key participant in the agency's failed investigation of Bernie Madoff even as the employee faced potential disciplinary action, according to government inspectors. Published August 3, 2011

Judge says Bush official can withdraw his guilty plea

The former head of the White House Office of Special Counsel in the George W. Bush administration can withdraw his guilty plea to a misdemeanor contempt of Congress charge because he did not realize he could go to jail, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. Published August 3, 2011

Most charges upheld for 6 D.C. gang members

A federal appeals court has upheld most of the felony charges against six members of a violent drug gang in Washington, D.C., that left 31 dead during the 1990s. Published August 1, 2011