Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is investigating Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm following her recent admission that she provided inaccurate information regarding her stock holdings. In an April Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee hearing, Granholm stated under oath that she only held investments in mutual funds and did not own individual stocks. She also expressed support for Senator Hawley's proposed legislation prohibiting stock trading by federal officials and members of Congress.

However, a letter sent by Granholm to committee leadership last Friday revealed a different story. She admitted to owning shares in six companies at the time of her testimony, which she subsequently sold on May 18th. Granholm pledged to disclose the specific companies involved in a future filing. Furthermore, she disclosed that her husband, Daniel Mulhern, owned stock in Ford Motor Company, which was also divested in May. This holding had not been reported in previous financial disclosures, with Granholm mistakenly believing it had been sold in 2021.

In a letter addressed to Granholm on Tuesday, Senator Hawley expressed his concern over her misleading statements. He pointed out the discrepancy between her testimony and her recent admission, questioning her delay in notifying the committee. He also referenced a 2022 Business Insider report alleging that Granholm had previously violated conflict-of-interest laws with improper stock sale disclosures.

Senator Hawley has requested a response from Secretary Granholm by June 20th, addressing his questions about the timing of her disclosures and the reasons for her delayed stock sales. He has also requested a comprehensive list of her stock transactions over the past decade to assess any potential conflicts of interest. In response, a Department of Energy spokesperson defended Granholm, stating that she prioritizes the interests of the American public and has consistently acted with transparency and ethical conduct, divesting assets both at the time of her confirmation and subsequently.