Emails add evidence McAuliffe pressed US officials to help troubled company

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe's effort to press top federal officials on behalf of his troubled electric car company was wider and deeper than previously revealed, emails obtained by Watchdog.org show.

The emails -- among McAuliffe and top-level Department of Homeland Security officials -- include dire warnings that GreenTech Automotive's Mississippi plant would shut down within hours if officials failed to approve foreign investors' visa applications.

READ THE EMAILS HERE BEGINNING ON PAGE 12

The emails came in a string beginning with McAuliffe, then chairman of GreenTech, and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano's chief of staff, Noah Kroloff, on Nov. 16, 2012. The subject line: "Further to our conversation today re USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and GreenTech Automotive."

The emails were obtained from USCIS through the Freedom of Information Act. The agency refused to provide notes of telephone conversations referenced in the emails.

In one email, McAuliffe thanked Kroloff "for taking the time to discuss our concerns regarding the timeliness of USCIS' review of our investors' EB-5 petitions."

"GreenTech relies on funding from EB-5 investors to grow our electric-car business and create jobs in Mississippi. I would appreciate any assistance you may be able to provide with regard to this matter," McAuliffe wrote.

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