GOP accuses Jennifer Granholm of financial misconduct, demands investigation.

Republican Senator Calls for Investigation into Energy Secretary Granholm’s Stock Holdings

“Secretary Granholm’s repeated noncompliance with established financial rules and regulations, in addition to her disregard for ethical standards, has contributed to the erosion of the public’s trust not only in her, but the Department of Energy as a whole.”

A top Republican senator is demanding an investigation into Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s false testimony on stock holdings and her failure to disclose her husband’s ownership of conflicting Ford stock. Granholm has faced scrutiny from lawmakers and watchdogs over her ethical and financial decisions, and her recent admission of “mistakenly” testifying about her stock holdings has only added fuel to the fire.

Senator Barrasso’s Request for an Inquiry

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has written to the Energy Department’s inspector general, Teri L. Donaldson, requesting an inquiry into Granholm’s actions. Barrasso cites Granholm’s repeated noncompliance with established financial rules and regulations, as well as her disregard for ethical standards, as reasons for the investigation.

“It is imperative that impropriety on the part of cabinet officials is taken seriously, the dignity of the offices in which they serve is upheld, and that officials are held accountable when they fail to follow the letter of the law,” Barrasso wrote in his letter. “I respectfully request that your office determine the facts surrounding any impropriety in connection with this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.”

Watchdog Groups May Launch Their Own Inquiries

Sources have told the Washington Examiner that Barrasso’s demand for an investigation is just the latest update in the stock holding saga. Watchdog groups may launch their own inquiries or file ethics complaints against Granholm. Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has already accused Granholm of being “either incompetent or lying.”

Granholm has promised to make public certain details about her prior holdings in her financial disclosure, which is expected to be out in mid-June. In the meantime, the controversy surrounding her stock holdings and her husband’s ownership of conflicting Ford stock continues to grow.

Granholm’s Ties to Ford

Granholm has promoted Ford’s business in the past, and she and President Joe Biden have both promoted Ford’s electric vehicles. In April, Granholm tapped a Ford lobbyist named Christopher Smith to sit on her Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. Smith has lobbied the Biden administration on a variety of policies, including on provisions related to the Inflation Reduction Act, a $740 billion spending bill that Biden signed into law in August 2022.

Granholm’s ties to Ford have raised concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly given her recent admission of “mistakenly” testifying about her stock holdings. The investigation into Granholm’s actions is ongoing, and the Energy Department has yet to comment on the matter.

Key Takeaways

• A top Republican senator is calling for an investigation into Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s false testimony on stock holdings and her failure to disclose her husband’s ownership of conflicting Ford stock.
• Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) has written to the Energy Department’s inspector general, requesting an inquiry into Granholm’s actions.
• Watchdog groups may launch their own inquiries or file ethics complaints against Granholm.
• Granholm’s ties to Ford have raised concerns about conflicts of interest.