DOE IG: 100+ stimulus-related criminal probes

Darius Dixon
Politico
11/2/2011

The Energy Department’s inspector general has launched more than 100 criminal investigations related to 2009 economic stimulus spending.

In written testimony prepared for delivery to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today, Inspector General Gregory Friedman said the investigations have involved “various schemes, including the submission of false information, claims for unallowable or unauthorized expenses, and other improper uses of Recovery Act funds.”

So far, the investigations have led to five criminal prosecutions and brought in “over $2.3 million in monetary recoveries,” Friedman said.

“This includes a series of cases involving fictitious claims for travel per diem resulting in the recovery of $1 million alone in Recovery Act funds,” he added.

The activity is partially due to the fact that few “shovel ready” projects existed in 2009, Feldman said. “The concept of ‘shovel ready’ projects became a Recovery Act symbol of expeditiously stimulating the economy and creating jobs. In reality, few actual ‘shovel ready’ projects existed,” he said…

The article continues at Politico.

Also at Politico, Biden aide sought info on Solyndra investors, emails show

Related: When The Government Passes Out Money They Tend To Pass It Out To Their Friends And Cronies , at Say Anything.

Senator Jeff Sessions points out why, exactly, the government ought not be in the business of doling out “investments” (or other special treatment) to the private sector.

“There are tens of thousands of small businesses out there that would like to get loans, that need low-cost loans but are not getting them… when the government gets into passing out money—taxpayers’ money—they tend to pass it out to their friends and cronies.”…

Comments are closed.

Categories