Two high Senate Democrats are calling for a federal investigation into Elon Musk’s contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his high aides.
Senators are urging the Pentagon and Justice Division to find out whether or not there must be a compulsory overview of the federal authorities’s contract with Musk’s firm SpaceX (one thing the Kremlin denies).
The Wall Road Journal reported final month that the world’s richest man has had “quite a few high-level conversations” with Putin since 2022, whereas additionally staying in contact with different senior Russian officers.
Musk wrote on his X platform on Friday that he “will discover out who’s making these accusations and nuke them.”
In one other submit, he lashed out at two Democrats — Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Armed Companies Committee, and Sen. Jeanne Shah of New Hampshire, the rating Democrat on the Armed Companies and International Relations Committee. Xin – is “puppet” and “idiot”.
Two Democrats despatched a letter On Friday, he raised “severe questions on Mr. Musk’s reliability as a authorities contractor and contractor” with Lawyer Common Merrick Garland and Protection Division Inspector Common Robert Storch. . [security] Clearance Holder”.
The Donald Trump ally presently advantages from billions of {dollars} in U.S. protection and intelligence contracts and claims to have a top-secret stage safety clearance.
“Russian ambitions in house pose a direct menace to U.S. nationwide safety,” Reed and Shaheen wrote. They pointed to reviews earlier this yr that U.S. adversaries had deployed a counterspace weapon that may have the ability to assault different low-altitude targets. satellite tv for pc.
The senators famous that not like different individuals with high-level safety clearances, Musk has not reported his contacts with overseas authorities officers.
They added that the billionaire’s communications with Putin’s deputy chief of workers, Sergei Kiriyenko, got here because the Justice Division found that Kiriyenko and different senior officers have been concerned in social media Efforts to unfold Kremlin propaganda, together with on the Musk-owned X (previously X).
“For these causes, we urge a direct overview to find out whether or not Mr. Musk’s ties to a number of senior Russian officers warrant investigation and a dedication by senior Division of Protection interrogation officers whether or not SpaceX ought to exclude Mr. Musk from involvement in present or future U.S. authorities contracts,” Reed and Shaheen wrote.
Musk has supported Trump’s profitable re-election bid in 2024 by marketing campaign appearances and tens of millions of {dollars} in donations, and earlier this week the president-elect appointed him to steer the brand new Division of Authorities Effectiveness.
However he has additionally been concerned within the incoming president’s diplomatic efforts.
Up to now week, Musk had cellphone calls with Ukrainian President Zelensky and Turkish President Erdogan.
BBC America associate CBS Information reported on Friday that he had additionally lately Visit the residence of the Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations In New York. Washington has no diplomatic relations with Tehran.
