A man wears a black “Make America Great Again” hat while attending a campaign rally with Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show trade fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024. Elon Musk (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin visit the campaign headquarters in Moscow on March 18, 2024.
Gabriel Grigorov | AFP | Getty Images
A senior Democrat says the Pentagon and law enforcement agencies should investigate reports that billionaire Elon Musk had multiple phone conversations with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, citing national security concerns. two senators said in a letter seen by Reuters on Friday.
Musk, who was appointed to the top government position by Republican President-elect Donald Trump, is CEO of aerospace company SpaceX, overseeing billions of dollars in contracts with the Pentagon and intelligence agencies.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed, told Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Pentagon’s Inspector General about Musk’s involvement in the SpaceX program. , said the possibility of disqualification or exclusion should be investigated following recent reports. Meetings with Russian officials in October. Deprivation refers to exclusion from certain contracts or privileges.
“These relationships between Mr. Musk, a prominent adversary of the United States and a beneficiary of billions of dollars in US government funds, are material to Mr. Musk’s credibility as a government contractor and permit holder. “This raises many questions,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. Letter dated Friday.
Since the Wall Street Journal reported last month about Musk’s alleged contacts with Russia, several Democratic members of Congress have publicly called for an investigation into Musk’s communications with Moscow; The letter addressed to U.S. officials who may do so had not previously been reported.
The call for a federal investigation by Shaheen and Reid comes after Trump has spent more than $119 million on his re-election campaign and is backed by Musk, who was named co-secretary of the president-elect’s next department. Quite a milestone as he prepares to return to the House. Improving government efficiency.
SpaceX, Musk and the Department of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Pentagon and Justice Department did not immediately respond to similar requests.