The optimistic picture presented by the company came up at today's congressional hearing on the loan guarantees Solyndra received from a Department of Energy program, created as part of the 2009 stimulus bill. Solyndra CEO Brian Higgins and Chief Financial Officer Bill Stover declined to testify, invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. From ABC News:

Democrats said they, too, were puzzled by the silence of executives who just months earlier had sent a memo to Congress describing the company as "ramping" up its production, "competitive" with foreign rivals, and "on track" to hit its financial targets for the year.

The document obtained by ABC News, entitled "Exceeding Expectations: Solyndra Today," appears to have grossly distorted the company's actual financial standing. Since Solyndra sent the document to Congress on June 23, followed by a mid-July letter and personal visit making more claims about its financial strength, the company has not only declared bankruptcy, it has been raided by the FBI.

"When Mr. Harrison was in my office in July he said that Solyndra's future was bright, with sales and production booming," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). "I 'd like to know why he told me that in July and then filed for bankruptcy one month later. Unfortunately I will not get an answer today."

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Read Solyndra's June Presentation to Congress Members: "Exceeding Expectations: Solyndra Today"