Elon Musk Hit With First Formal Conflict Of Interest Complaint Over FAA-Starlink Deal

SOURCE: Forbes

Billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday faced his first formal complaint alleging
his work for the federal government violates conflict of interest laws, as a campaign finance watchdog alleged his involvement with a deal between the Federal Aviation Administration and his own company Starlink is unlawful...

Federal law prohibits any government employees -- including "special
government employees" like Musk -- from "participat[ing] personally and substantially" in any "particular matter[s]" in which the employee, their spouse, their companies or other business partners have any "financial interest," with any "willful" violations being punishable by up to five years in prison or fines of up to $50,000 per offense.

Musk's personal involvement with Starlink at the FAA appears to violate the prohibition on federal workers participating directly in government matters that affect them, the CLC argues, pointing out that awarding Starlink a "multibillion" dollar government contract with the FAA would "have a real, as opposed to speculative, possibility of affecting the financial interests of Musk, Starlink, and SpaceX."

"The evidence suggesting that Musk has blatantly and improperly influenced the FAA's decision to work with Starlink warrants a thorough OIG fact finding,"
the CLC alleged in its complaint. "The public has a right to know that their tax dollars are being spent in the public's best interest and not to benefit a government employee's financial interests."

MORE at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/03/13/elon-musk-hit-with-first-fo
rmal-conflict-of-interest-complaint-over-faa-starlink-deal/

https://tinyurl.com/42buh7sh

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