FBI Agent Proposed Criminal Investigation Into Elon Musk
Senator Chuck Grassley declassified an internal FBI email from February 2025 regarding potential charges.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Financial Crime
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In February 2025, a former FBI special agent proposed launching a criminal investigation into Elon Musk for his work with the Department of Government Efficiency. The agent suggested Musk violated federal statutes concerning blackmail and personal enrichment.
Why it matters
The proposal gained public attention after Senator Chuck Grassley declassified the internal email during a hearing, highlighting internal FBI deliberations over Musk's government activities. The agent argued that the work conducted by Musk and OPM staff wasted official time and exceeded authorized access.
The FBI agent suggested leveraging the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's weekly request for five employee accomplishments to initiate a criminal inquiry. The proposal remains an internal record, as no formal criminal charges were pursued against Musk or OPM staff.
The players
Elon Musk
He is a prominent business executive who has collaborated with the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Chuck Grassley
He is a long-serving United States Senator from Iowa who frequently oversees investigations into federal agency conduct.
Kevin Gounaud
He is a former FBI special agent who authored the internal proposal to investigate potential criminal activity.
Kash Patel
He is the FBI Director who attended the Senate hearing where the email was declassified.
The details
The internal email likened Musk's actions to the 2016 recovery of 600,000 emails from Hillary Clinton's private server. Agent Kevin Gounaud proposed identifying a prosecutor to pursue the case based on his assessment that OPM staff were abetting unauthorized activities.
Timeline
In 2016, the FBI recovered 600,000 emails from Hillary Clinton's private server.
In February 2025, former Special Agent Kevin Gounaud emailed a colleague proposing an investigation into Musk.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Senator Chuck Grassley made the records public.
Legal Context
The proposal mirrors past FBI operations that have scrutinized high-profile political and administrative figures, such as the 2016 FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server. This incident reflects ongoing debates regarding the appropriate use of federal investigative power against private sector advisors.
The disclosure of this internal email informs the public about the mechanisms used by federal agents to propose investigations into government-adjacent contractors. This provides residents with transparency regarding how federal officials weigh potential criminal violations in public-private partnerships.
The takeaway
The declassification of the email illustrates the scrutiny high-profile individuals face when working alongside federal agencies. It serves as a reminder that internal government communications regarding potential legal actions often become public through legislative oversight.
Further reading
For more information on ongoing oversight, visit the Financial Crime section.
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