
Elon Musk’s Legal Battles: How the US Government Allegedly Targeted Him for Six Years
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has been at the center of a storm of legal and regulatory challenges over the past six years. According to a letter by his lawyer, Alex Shapiro, Musk claims to have faced relentless scrutiny and harassment from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Justice Department, and various other federal agencies under the Biden administration.
A Rocky Start with the Biden Administration
The tension between Musk and the government reportedly began in February 2021, just weeks after President Joe Biden assumed office. Musk’s calls for a carbon tax were met with indifference, and later that year, Tesla was conspicuously excluded from a White House summit on electric vehicles, despite being a leader in the sector. Musk tweeted his frustration, calling Tesla’s exclusion "odd."
Musk, who has historically supported Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, soon found himself at odds with the administration. His vocal criticism of government policies allegedly triggered a series of investigations and fines targeting his companies.
Investigations and Penalties
Musk’s businesses, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and Starlink, faced multiple probes by federal agencies:
- Tesla: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, leading to a recall of two million cars. The Justice Department also probed Tesla for alleged misuse of company funds.
- SpaceX: Fined $633,009 by the Federal Aviation Administration for license violations and faced a lawsuit from the Justice Department for not hiring non-citizens.
- Neuralink: Fined for alleged unsafe transport of hardware and investigated for animal cruelty, though the latter case was dismissed.
- Starlink: Lost $885 million in federal subsidies for rural broadband expansion, a move Musk criticized as politically motivated.
The Twitter Takeover and the SEC
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022 amplified tensions. He released the "Twitter Files," revealing alleged political bias and censorship on the platform, which he claimed benefited Democrats. Following the takeover, the FTC issued over 350 demands for documents, prompting a Congressional inquiry into potential political bias.
Musk’s long-standing feud with the SEC also resurfaced. In 2018, he and Tesla were fined $20 million each after a controversial tweet about taking Tesla private. Recently, the SEC demanded Musk pay penalties for alleged violations related to Twitter share transactions, which Musk denounced as politically motivated.
Musk’s Defiance
Despite the mounting pressure, Musk has remained defiant. In October 2022, he accused federal agencies of being "weaponized institutions" serving political agendas. His lawyer’s letter to the SEC portrays these investigations as part of a broader campaign of harassment.
Parallels in India
Musk’s case highlights concerns about the politicization of regulatory bodies. Similar accusations have been made in India, where industrialists like the Adani Group have faced scrutiny allegedly driven by political motivations.
The ongoing saga reflects a broader debate on the balance between regulatory oversight and political targeting, raising questions about fairness, accountability, and the influence of government power over individuals and businesses.
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