INVESTIGATION

FBI Searches Solyndra Office

Solar company touted by Obama, received huge federal loan.

It seems Solyndra's problems won't end with its bankruptcy filing. The FBI conducted a surprise search of the offices of the solar-panel manufacturer. The offices shut after the company filed for bankruptcy protection last week, laying off over 1,000 workers. The search appears to be related to an investigation into the $535 million Department of Energy loan guarantee received by the company in 2009. Last year, President Obama held up Solyndra as an example of his administration's clean-energy investment program. Solyndra has also gotten attention on Capitol Hill because Tulsa oil magnate George Kaiser, a leading fundraiser for President Obama, is one of its largest investors. Republicans have demanded an investigation into the loan-approval process, while some Democrats have questioned whether the company misled federal officials about its financial state.