June 15, 2023 |
Photo – Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm – Courtesy departmentofenergy.gov
In Washington, D.C., Wyoming Senator John Barrasso is seeking more information about the financial holdings of Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. The Biden Administration appointee recently informed the Barrasso’s energy committee that she “mistakenly” provided false testimony about her stock holdings earlier this year.
Secretary Granholm stated for the record that she did not own any individual stocks. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri posed the question to the Energy Secretary.
Senator Barrasso’s letter to Department of Energy Inspector General Teri Donaldson highlights multiple instances of questionable ethical conduct by Granholm, who is a big advocate of electric cars, since the start of her tenure. The letter requests that the Inspector General determine the facts surrounding any impropriety in the matter.
In his letter to the Energy Inspector, Senator Barrasso documents several misrepresentations, or in the senator’s words, “multiple instances of questionable ethical conduct” that Granholm made in her testimony to the energy committee.
Senator Barrasso’s letter specifically cites Granholm’s “retention of Proterra stock while President Biden and Vice President Harris overtly promoted the company in their official capacity.” Wyoming senior senator also said the energy secretary in the Biden cabinet also promoted Proterra “in violation of the Biden Ethics Pledge.”
Proterra, Inc., is an American automotive and energy storage company based in Burlingame, California. Granholm sold off $1.6 million stock—240,520 shares–in Proterra at the end of May following her false testimony to the senate energy committee. Granholm is no stranger to the company. She resigned from the Proterra board to take the Energy Secretary position.
Barrasso also calls out Granholm for touting the electric Ford Mustang this spring—“what a time to be alive,” she said—while her husband retained ownership of Ford Stock.
In his letter to the Energy Inspector demanding an investigation into the secretary, Senator Barrasso said “Granholm’s repeated noncompliance with established financial rules, in addition to her disregard for ethical standards, has contributed to the erosion not only of the public’s trust in her, but the Energy Department as a whole.”
Barrasso said that the impropriety of cabinet officials should be taken seriously for the dignity of the offices they hold.
Granholm recently informed the committee that she “mistakenly” provided false information in testimony earlier this year.
