Michelle Malkin » In other news: Judicial Watch sues over smelly Biden-tied, taxpayer-funded loan deal

In other news: Judicial Watch sues over smelly Biden-tied, taxpayer-funded loan deal

By Michelle Malkin • January 19, 2010 04:35 PM

The culture of corruption never rests. Neither does Judicial Watch, which has just filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit over a possible quid pro quo deal involving VP Joe Biden.

The deets:

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Obama Treasury Department to obtain documents related to automotive start-up Fisker’s purchase of a former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware, Vice President Biden’s home state. The Department of Energy made possible the purchase of the plant with a $528.7 million taxpayer-funded loan for Fisker. The company plans to use the plant to produce a new line of hybrid electric vehicles set to launch in 2012.

On October 27, 2009, in a press event announcing the plant reopening, Vice President Biden made news by inadvertently revealing Fisker’s undisclosed plans to produce 100,000 plug-in hybrid sedans, coupes and crossovers. At the conclusion of his speech, Biden told the crowd of mostly UAW workers, who had previously worked at the plant when it was owned by General Motors, “imagine when this factory, when the floor we’re standing on right now is making 100,000 plug-in hybrid sedans, coupes and crossovers every single year.”

Fisker’s selection of the plant, and Vice President’s participation in the press conference announcing the plant reopening as well as his intimate knowledge of Fisker’s production plans, raised questions in the auto industry as to whether or not there was any quid pro quo arrangement with the Vice President related to the purchase, especially given the fact that a large government loan made the purchase possible. (Moreover, given that the federal government is the majority owner of GM, there are other potential conflicts of interest related to this deal that merit investigation.)

According to Judicial Watch’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Judicial Watch seeks access to “any and all records regarding the sale of General Motor Company’s Wilmington, Delaware plant to Fisker Automotive, Inc.” The time frame for the request is August 1 — October 31, 2009.

Judicial Watch filed its original FOIA request with the Treasury Department November 2, 2009. Treasury acknowledged receipt of the request and, on November 9th, granted itself additional time for processing. A response was due December 16th. However, to date, Treasury has failed to produce any documents or demonstrate why documents are exempt from production.

“The Obama administration needs to come clean with respect to how this deal was struck,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “Vice President Biden had inside knowledge about Fisker’s purchase of a plant based in his home state, creating at least the appearance of impropriety. Taxpayers have half a billion dollars at stake in a controversial and expensive business idea. And now that the federal government has an ownership stake in the auto industry, its decisions must be completely transparent in order to root out any possible corruption.”

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Posted in: Corruption,Joe Biden

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Comments

#1

On January 19th, 2010 at 4:40 pm, JP_Texan said:

A Democrat getting a bribe in a dark backroom deal? That’ll never happen. Right Ben Nelson? Right Mary Landrieu?
#2

On January 19th, 2010 at 4:42 pm, walterc said:

Chicago Democrats working out a deal that involves UAW workers? This is beyond the appearance of corruption, it’s the face of corruption.
#3

On January 19th, 2010 at 4:55 pm, Flyoverman said:

Holy Spiro Agnew, Batman ! !

Biden told the crowd of mostly UAW workers, who had previously worked at the plant when it was owned by General Motors, “imagine when this factory, when the floor we’re standing on right now is making 100,000 plug-in hybrid sedans, coupes and crossovers every single year.”

Imagine 99,713 unsold plug-ins sitting unsold on the dealers’ lots.
#4

On January 19th, 2010 at 4:56 pm, Hangfire said:

Okay, so the taxpayers are paying for an automotive bailout with one hand, and paying for a competing industry with the other.

Makes sense to me. (NOT)
#5

On January 19th, 2010 at 4:58 pm, nail49 said:

“[I]magine when this factory, when the floor we’re standing on right now is making 100,000 hair plugs ~~plug-in hybrid sedans, coupes and crossovers~~ every single year

Made it more fitting for the Veep
#6

On January 19th, 2010 at 4:59 pm, long_haired_conservative said:

This is SO Ayn Rand.
#7

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:05 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

I can’t believe Sheriff Joe could let this slip by. He’s very busy these days. Must have been a bad day because no one messes with Sheriff Joe.
#8

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:10 pm, cicerokid said:

“The Obama administration needs to come clean with respect to how this deal was struck,”

Praytell, how does one cleanse a turd?
#9

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:12 pm, cicerokid said:

Imagine 99,713 unsold plug-ins sitting unsold on the dealers’ lots.

Nope. Cash for Clunkers, part deux, flyoverman. Can you say, “susbsidies”?
#10

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:17 pm, swede said:

Praytell, how does one cleanse a turd?

Yup. This one has that aura of raw sewage. ‘Bout time for some coruptocrat scandals to hit the fan. Grab a seat and some popcorn. Show time!
#11

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:25 pm, Regulus said:

Hope-a-Dope and the Domestic Enemy are transparent, alright. Only the willfully blind can’t see right through them by now.
#12

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:31 pm, elgringoviejo said:

No problem, with the health care bill as precedent, just pass a law requiring that each non-union household with income over ….. must purchase a plug-in hybrid sedan, coupe or crossover vehicle.
#13

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:32 pm, Papa Louie said:

A response was due December 16th. However, to date, Treasury has failed to produce any documents or demonstrate why documents are exempt from production.

Aren’t we lucky to have a president who makes transparency such a high priority?

“At a time when everybody is tightening their belts, the last thing the American people want to see is that any of this money is being wasted. … We’re going to do it continuing to operate in a transparent fashion so that taxpayers know this money is not being wasted on a bunch of boondoggles.”

– President Obama on Jun 8, 2009
#14

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:34 pm, vickisoup said:

“Halliburton”…”Fisker”…
Where are the screaming liberal meamies??
#15

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:49 pm, Papa Louie said:

“Vice President Biden had inside knowledge about Fisker’s purchase of a plant based in his home state, creating at least the appearance of impropriety.”

Is it possible Joe Biden was speaking from “inside knowledge” last summer when he made this comment predicting there would be scams and wasted money?

“There are going to be mistakes made. Some people are being scammed already… we know some of this money is going to be wasted.”
– Joe Biden on Jun 2, 2009

I believe him. I think he did “know” some of the money was going to be wasted. In fact, I think he was counting on it. And this is the guy Obama put in charge of preventing waste in government spending when he nicknamed him “The Sheriff”.
#16

On January 19th, 2010 at 5:53 pm, swede said:

Plug ins? 54% of US electricity is generated by…TA DA!! coal. Should take about 500 lbs of carbon to charge that battery boys.
#17

On January 19th, 2010 at 6:08 pm, Hangfire said:

Here in the People’s Republic of Hawaii, the electricity is SO high that electric vehicles are less affordable than an Escalade when it comes to just filling the “tank.”

Plus, we lose power on Oahu everytime Mother Nature farts.
#18

On January 19th, 2010 at 6:37 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Plus, we lose power on Oahu everytime Mother Nature farts.blockquote>

When we had the last earthquake, they shut the power off – so that it wouldn’t accidentally go off. Yeah, that’s what I thought too.
#19

On January 19th, 2010 at 6:38 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Ok, twice in one day – same quote thing… ugh.
#20

On January 19th, 2010 at 6:49 pm, letget said:

This bho named him vp. Who in this bho and team isn’t lower than slug slime?
I just shudder how much money this bunch is making at taxpayers expense!
L
#21

On January 19th, 2010 at 7:04 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

as to whether or not there was any quid pro quo arrangement..

Is that just a polite way of asking whether or not these baboons were grooming each other for lice and ticks?
#22

On January 19th, 2010 at 7:59 pm, Doctor Hook said:

Biden appears to have an affinity for things with plugs. Any ideas why?
#23

On January 19th, 2010 at 8:41 pm, BadIdeaGuy said:

If you do the math on the deal, it’s well over $200k in taxpayer funds per job created for an estimated $40k sedan that’s completely untested in the market. Then put the plant 4 miles from Joey’s house? Let me guess, his scumbag brother will be the plant manager. Ayn Rand couldn’t have written it better.
#24

On January 20th, 2010 at 8:50 am, RedDog said:

All the dummy had to do was keep his mouth shut. He implicated himself and probably the Sock Puppet too.
#25

On January 20th, 2010 at 2:45 pm, WarEagle82 said:

Joe Biden keeping his mouth shut? Now THAT would be a miracle!

On January 20th, 2010 at 8:50 am, RedDog said:

All the dummy had to do was keep his mouth shut. He implicated himself and probably the Sock Puppet too.