Democrats call for probe into Musk's missile shield role
Forty-two Democratic Party members of Congress are demanding an inquiry into the role of billionaire Elon Musk in the preparations for the construction of the Golden Dome missile defence shield, reports Reuters.
In a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the group led by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Greg Casar called for an investigation into the initial stages of the procurement process, citing concerns over the involvement of Elon Musk's company, SpaceX.
They demand investigation into Elon Musk's role in the Golden Dome matter
Earlier, Reuters reported that SpaceX, along with companies Palantir and Anduril, are considered leaders in the race for the contract for a critical part of the shield project. The agency also highlighted Musk's close ties with former President Donald Trump's administration, mentioning that the richest man in the world donated over $250 (€221) million to the Republican candidate's successful campaign.
"This is a very troubling report," wrote the signatories, emphasising that the circumstances raise concerns about whether "defence ccontracts to build a Golden Dome are an effective way to protect Americans or are meant to enrich Mr. Musk and other elites." They also expressed unease about the "subscription service" proposed by SpaceX, which could, on one hand, circumvent traditional Pentagon procurement rules and, on the other, limit government oversight of the project's development and pricing.
"A subscription model would also give Mr. Musk unacceptable ongoing leverage over United States national security," they wrote.
If the Inspector General determines that Musk played a role in giving SpaceX an advantage, the authors of the letter want those findings forwarded to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation. So far, neither the Pentagon nor SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril have commented on the agency's information.
The agency emphasised that the decision-making process regarding the dome is at a very early stage. It also noted that some military experts question the assumptions and potential effectiveness of the shield. Nevertheless, over 180 companies have expressed interest in working on the dome for the Pentagon. Among them are traditional department suppliers such as Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.
Musk a problem for Tesla
This is not the end of the billionaire's problems.
Tesla was reportedly starting the search for a new CEO. The board's decision is due to the company's poor financial performance and controversies surrounding Elon Musk, reported CNBC.
It added, citing "The Wall Street Journal," that the company's board contacted several recruitment firms to find a successor to Elon Musk.
Tesla's Chairwoman Robyn Denholm denied these reports.
"The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead," reads part of the company's official statement.
