A pair of Democratic senators referred to as for a federal investigation into Elon Musk’s involvement in SpaceX’s federal contracts following reviews the tech billionaire has been in common contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a letter despatched Friday, Senate Armed Providers Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) stated Musk’s reported relations with a U.S. adversary “pose serious questions” about his “reliability as a government contract and a clearance holder.”
Shaheen is a senior member of the Armed Providers and Overseas Relations committees.
Musk’s aerospace firm, SpaceX, holds contracts with the Division of Protection and Intelligence Neighborhood price billions of {dollars}. He’s additionally a “prime contractor” for the Area Pressure’s Nationwide Safety Area program and holds a $1.8 billion labeled contract with the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace, the lawmakers famous.
The tech entrepreneur has reportedly claimed he holds a U.S. safety clearance as a part of these federal agreements.
The letter comes after The Wall Road Journal reported final month Musk has been in common contact with Putin since late 2022. The 2 reportedly had varied conversations on private issues, enterprise and geopolitical tensions, whereas generally involving different high-ranking Russian officers, together with Putin’s first deputy chief of employees, Sergei Kiriyenko.
In one among these conversations, Putin allegedly requested Musk to keep away from activating Starlink’s satellite tv for pc web service over Taiwan to assist Chinese language chief Xi Jinping, the Journal reported, citing two individuals briefed on the request.
“Space equipment is at the crux of the communications that underpin our most sensitive military and intelligence operations. Russia’s ambitions in the space domain pose a direct threat to U.S. national security,” the lawmakers wrote. “Communications between Russian government officials and any individual with a security clearance have the potential to put our security at risk. That is why there exists a strict reporting regime for any such foreign contacts.”
Reed and Shaheen later referenced the Justice Division’s (DOJ) latest seizure of 32 web domains utilized by Russian intelligence brokers and their proxies to steal Individuals’ info. Kiriyenko was among the many Russian officers alleged to be concerned with the hassle.
The lawmakers requested the DOJ and Pentagon to overview whether or not Musk’s relations with Russian officers warrant an investigation and referred to as on the Protection Division to find out whether or not SpaceX ought to exclude Musk’s involvement in present or future authorities contracts.
The DOJ confirmed it acquired the letter however declined to remark additional and the Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to The Hill’s request.
Musk has change into one among President-elect Trump’s fiercest allies, spending time on the marketing campaign path and a number of other days at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida following the election.
The letter comes simply days after Trump tapped Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to move up a “Department of Government Efficiency,” which is anticipated to provide a report on slashing authorities prices and restructuring federal businesses.
In his management of the advisory panel, Musk could possibly be working with the very businesses that maintain contracts with SpaceX and electrical automobile firm Tesla. Ethics specialists have advised his twin roles might current conflicts of curiosity.
Nonetheless, the panel is prone to face hurdles in its makes an attempt to impact change given its seemingly advisory function, specialists instructed The Hill.
Any main funds cuts must be permitted by Congress, he famous. Whereas Republicans have secured management of each chambers, they’re prone to have a slim majority within the Home and lack a filibuster-proof majority within the Senate.
The Hill reached out to SpaceX for remark.
— Up to date at 5:47 p.m.
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