Norman, Comer Press Secretary Granholm on Violating Ethics Rules

New information reveals conflicts in interest and possible statutory violations

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), Subcommittee on the Environment Ranking Member Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), and several Committee Republicans renewed concerns about Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s possible conflicts of interest and statutory violations relating to stock holdings. New information reveals Secretary Granholm violated the STOCK Act even though the Department of Energy previously told Committee Republicans she was complying with the Biden Administration’s ethical standards.

“On May 12, 2021, we wrote to you requesting information relating to your investment in Proterra, Inc., to determine whether a conflict of interest existed. Nine months later, Committee Republicans have still not received any of the documents we requested. The sole response from the Department of Energy on June 29, 2021, stated that you had ‘acted in full accordance with the comprehensive ethical standards set by the Biden Administration.’ However, a recent Insider report reveals that you did in fact violate federal conflict of interest laws before we received the letter. The contradiction between DOE’s response to our initial letter and your eventual disclosure of violating the law raises additional concerns about a lack of transparency at DOE and whether you take your ethical obligations seriously,” wrote the Republican lawmakers.

At the time of her Senate confirmation as Secretary, Granholm withheld a multi-million-dollar stake in Proterra, an electric vehicle company, and served on the board of directors. Before Secretary Granholm divested over 240,000 shares of Proterra stock, President Biden participated in an event promoting Proterra, Inc. and its initiative to design and manufacture zero-emission electric transit vehicles. The promotion of Proterra, Inc. and Secretary Grandholm’s financial ties are troubling and raise questions about whether the company receives preferential treatment from the Department of Energy. 

“As Insider reports, you made nine stock trades between April 30, 2021, and October 26, 2021, including shares of at least one government contractor, and failed to disclose them in accordance with the STOCK Act. The trade you made on April 30, 2021 was required to be reported 45 days after the transaction. Nonetheless, when your staff responded to our letter on June 29, 2021, the statutory deadline for disclosure had already passed. In fact, you were already in violation of the STOCK Act when your staff informed Committee Republicans that you were in ‘full accordance’ with ethical standards. This lack of transparency is troubling. We must ensure that government officials are complying with all federal ethics laws, particularly members of President Biden’s cabinet,” continued the Republican lawmakers.

In the letter, Oversight Committee Republicans call for all documents and information about Secretary Granholm’s divesture from Proterra, violations of the STOCK Act, ethics disclosures, and President Biden’s promotion of Proterra.

The letter to Secretary Granholm can be found here.