Reports that billionaire Elon Musk has held multiple calls with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, should be investigated by the Pentagon and law-enforcement agencies on national-security grounds, two senior Democratic senators said in a letter seen by Reuters on Friday.
Musk, who has been appointed to a senior government role by Republican President-elect Donald Trump, oversees billions of dollars in Pentagon and intelligence-community contracts as CEO of aerospace company SpaceX.
Several Democratic lawmakers have publicly called for a probe into Musk's communications with Moscow since a Wall Street Journal report last month on the alleged contact, but the letter to the U.S. officials who could launch such an investigation has not been previously reported.
SpaceX, Musk and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Pentagon and Justice Department did not immediately respond to similar requests.
Persons:
Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Musk, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed, General Merrick Garland, Shaheen, Reed, Trump
Organizations:
Republican, Pentagon, Democratic, Reuters, SpaceX, Foreign Relations, Senate Armed Services, U.S, White, of Government Efficiency, Justice
Locations:
Butler , Pennsylvania, Moscow