Two top Democrats in the Senate have called for a federal investigation into Elon Musk’s reported contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top aides.
The senators urged the Pentagon and the Justice Department to determine whether the negotiations, which the Kremlin has denied, should force a review of federal government contracts with Musk’s SpaceX company. Are not.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the world’s richest man has had “multiple high-level conversations” with Putin since 2022, while also maintaining contact with other top Russian officials.
Musk wrote on his X platform on Friday that he “will find out who is making these accusations and destroy them.”
In another post, he criticized two Democrats – Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a ranking Democrat. in the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees – as “puppets” and “fools.” “.
The Democratic couple sent one letters on Friday to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Defense Inspector General Robert Storch raised “serious questions regarding Mr. Musk’s credibility as a government contractor and a [security] clearance holder”.
Donald Trump’s ally currently benefits from billions of dollars worth of US defense and intelligence contracts, and claims to have access to top-secret level security.
“Russia’s ambitions in space pose a direct threat to U.S. national security,” Reed and Shaheen wrote, pointing to reports earlier this year that America’s adversary had deployed a The anti-space weapon could be capable of attacking other satellites at low speeds. earth orbit.
The senators noted that, unlike others with high-level security clearances, Musk did not report his contacts with foreign government officials.
They added that the billionaire’s contact with Putin’s deputy chief of staff, Sergei Kiriyenko, came amid the Justice Department’s finding that Kiriyenko and other top officials had participated in the propaganda effort. Kremlin communications on social networks, including Musk-owned X (formerly the Twitter platform).
“For these reasons, we call for an immediate review to determine whether Mr. Musk’s relationships with multiple senior Russian officials warrant an investigation and determination by senior officials.” Department of Defense regarding whether SpaceX should exclude Mr. Musk from current or future involvement in the United States Government.” contract,” Reed and Shaheen wrote.
Musk, who backed Trump’s successful 2024 re-election bid with campaign appearances and millions of dollars in donations, was selected by the president-elect earlier this week to lead a The new “Department of Government Efficiency.”
But he has also been involved in the incoming president’s diplomatic efforts.
Musk participated in phone calls over the past week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reported on Friday that he recently also Visit the residence of the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in New York. Washington has no diplomatic relations with Tehran.
