Putin: Why Democratic Senators want Elon Musk probed

Two prominent Democratic senators have called for a federal investigation into Elon Musk’s reported communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior Kremlin officials. 

The lawmakers, Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, are urging the Pentagon and the Justice Department to assess whether Musk’s alleged interactions with a US adversary compromise national security, particularly in light of his key government appointment. 

Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk, the world’s richest individual, had engaged in “multiple, high-level conversations” with Putin since 2022, claims the Kremlin has denied. 

Responding on his X platform on Friday, Musk said, “I’m going to find out who’s making these accusations and nuke them.”

Reed and Shaheen, who hold senior positions on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, addressed their concerns in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Defence Department Inspector General Robert Storch. 

The senators raised serious questions regarding Mr Musk’s reliability as a government contractor and a (security) clearance holder.

Musk, who claims to possess top-secret clearance, has significant ties to US national security through SpaceX, a major contractor for NASA and a crucial player in the government’s defence and intelligence operations. 

The senators highlighted the risk posed by Musk’s alleged unreported communications with foreign officials, including Sergei Kiriyenko, Putin’s deputy chief of staff.

Kiriyenko has been accused by the US Justice Department of spreading Kremlin propaganda on social media platforms, including Musk’s X, to undermine international support for Ukraine and influence American voters. 

Musk’s platform has faced criticism for hosting content perceived as supportive of Russian interests, raising further concerns about his actions and their potential implications for US security.

Compounding these worries, Musk has played an increasingly prominent role in President-elect Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts. Over the past week, Musk joined Trump in calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, and Argentinian President Javier Milei. Musk also visited Trump’s Florida residence for a meeting.

However, reports of Musk visiting the New York residence of Iran’s UN ambassador have added a new layer of controversy. While Tehran’s foreign minister has denied the meeting took place, the development has raised questions about Musk’s activities, particularly as Washington does not maintain diplomatic relations with Iran.

Reed and Shaheen emphasised that Musk’s actions warrant a thorough investigation, especially given Russia’s ambitions in space, which they described as a direct threat to US national security. 

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