Solyndra Loan Figure Raises $500,000 for Obama

A former Energy Department adviser who pushed for a California solar company to receive a half-billion federal loan has raised more than $500,000 for President Obama's reelection campaign.

New campaign finance records show that Steve Spinner, a former sport fitness executive who helped monitor a clean energy loan guarantee program, raised more than $500,000 for Obama as of Sept. 30.

Emails released last week show that Spinner was actively involved in a $528 million federal loan for Solyndra Inc., despite pledging to recuse himself because his wife's law firm represented the company.

Another Energy Department adviser, Steve Westly, has raised more than $200,000 for Obama. Westly tried to warn Obama against a May 2010 trip to Solyndra's Fremont, Calif., headquarters. Obama went on the trip anyway.