### Senate Democrats Urge Investigation into Elon Musk's Alleged Contacts with Russian Officials

Two senior Senate Democrats have called for a federal probe into Elon Musk's purported interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his senior aides. The senators are pressing the Pentagon and the Justice Department to investigate whether these alleged communications should prompt a reassessment of Musk’s company, SpaceX, and its federal contracts.

Reports emerged last month, via The Wall Street Journal, suggesting that Musk has had "multiple, high-level conversations" with Putin since 2022, maintaining connections with other prominent Russian officials as well. However, Musk took to his X platform to vehemently deny the accusations, threatening to retaliate against those spreading such claims.

In a letter dated Friday, the Democratic senators addressed Attorney General Merrick Garland and Defense Department Inspector General Robert Storch, raising concerns about Musk's reliability as a government contractor and the security implications of his reported activities. Musk, an ally of Donald Trump, benefits significantly from U.S. defense and intelligence contracts and purportedly holds a top-secret security clearance.

The senators highlighted Russia's ambitions in space, noting that they pose a direct threat to U.S. national security. To underscore the urgency, they referenced reports from earlier this year about Russia deploying a counter-space weapon potentially capable of attacking satellites in low-earth orbit.

Of particular concern is Musk’s alleged failure to report his interactions with foreign government officials, unlike others with high-level security clearance. The letter also brought attention to Musk’s communications with Putin's deputy chief of staff, Sergei Kiriyenko, amid findings from the Justice Department that Kiriyenko and other officials were involved in spreading Kremlin propaganda on social media platforms, including X.

With these issues in mind, the senators called for an immediate review to determine whether Musk's interactions with Russian officials necessitate restricting his involvement in SpaceX's current or future U.S. government contracts. They argued that such a review is critical for national security, especially in light of the businessman’s significant influence and extensive government ties.

Musk, a staunch supporter of Trump's re-election in 2024 through campaign appearances and substantial donations, was recently named by the president-elect to head a new "Department of Government Efficiency." Additionally, Musk has been involved in key diplomatic engagements, participating in phone calls over the past week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Meanwhile, the president-elect’s choices for defense secretary, attorney general, and health secretary are also facing intense scrutiny.