Elizabeth Warren exige respostas de Trump para os ‘conflitos de interesse’ de Elon Musk no governo
A senadora Elizabeth Warren quer clareza sobre os padrões éticos aplicados ao bilionário Elon Musk no seu papel como principal conselheiro da equipa de transição do presidente dent Donald Trump. Numa carta a Trump, Warren enfatizou a necessidade de Musk abordar potenciais conflitos de interesse se quiser continuar a aconselhar a próxima administração.
A carta de Warren destaca as regras existentes publicadas pela Administração de Serviços Gerais. Estas regras determinam que os membros da equipa de transição evitem conflitos de interesses reais e aparentes.
O senador do partido democrático de Massachusetts destacou que os membros estão proibidos de se envolver em assuntos que possam afetar os seus interesses financeiros. Apesar destas estipulações, ainda não está claro se Musk, cujo património líquido está avaliado em 474 mil milhões de dólares pelo Bloomberg Billionaire Index , está sujeito a estas normas.
Musk, conhecido por fundar a Tesla e a SpaceX, desempenha um papel duplo no processo de transição. Ele não atua apenas como consultor, mas tambémco-lidera um conselho consultivo proposto com o objetivo de eliminar o desperdício governamental, denominado Departamento de Eficiência Governamental (DOGE).
Warren questiona a ética e a influência política de Musk
Em declarações à MSNBC, Warren expressou preocupação com a influência desenfreada de Musk, especialmente tendo em conta o envolvimento do seu império empresarial com trac governamentais e questões regulamentares.
Warren argumentou que várias empresas do CEO da Tesla estão diretamente envolvidas com o governo dos EUA. Para ela, a estreita relação de Musk com o presidente dent dos EUA, Trump, poderia tornar essas empresas “mais ricas”.
“São conflitos de interesse em níveis nunca vistos antes”, disse ela na entrevista.
Elizabeth Warren discorda de @elonmusk
aconselhando Trump sobre eficiência.Aparentemente, criar carros elétricos, foguetes reutilizáveis e interfaces cerebrais não conta como “nada para a sociedade” em seu mundo. pic.twitter.com/sHps2kQuXC
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) 18 de dezembro de 2024
Musk has been a visible and vocal supporter of Trump since his presidential campaign. His efforts included hosting events, making media appearances and funding initiatives to boost voter turnout.
Notably, Musk’s advocacy for Trump’s platform aligns closely with his business interests. For instance, Trump has pledged to accelerate federal initiatives, such as SpaceX’s Mars exploration programs, while Musk’s Tesla benefits from federal subsidies for its electric vehicle infrastructure.
“Putting Mr. Musk in a position to influence billions of dollars of government contracts and regulatory enforcement without a stringent conflict of interest agreement in place is an invitation for corruption on a scale not seen in our lifetimes,” Warren’s letter remarked.
The US Senator also noted that ethical oversight is critical to ensuring the government does not become a vehicle for enriching America’s wealthiest individuals.
Ties to the Trump administration
The extent of Musk’s involvement in the administration extends beyond advocacy. He has emerged as a central figure in shaping government policies and spending priorities, raising questions about impartiality. Meanwhile, several of Musk’s ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and Neuralink, face regulatory scrutiny or have contracts with federal agencies.
Tesla is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for pedestrian accidents involving its vehicles.
Additionally, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has raised potential securities fraud concerns regarding Musk’s recent activities. Other enterprises, such as Neuralink and Starlink, also have pending regulatory matters before federal authorities.
When questioned by Time magazine about potential conflicts of interest, Trump dismissed concerns, stating that Musk prioritizes the country over his business interests. “He considers this to be his most important project,” Trump said.
However, Warren’s letter contests this narrative, citing Musk’s vast financial stakes and the potential for ethical breaches. She called for transparency and a robust conflict-of-interest agreement to safeguard public trust in the administration.
In a statement addressing Warren’s concerns, Trump’s transition team spokesperson Karoline Leavitt dismissed the senator’s critique as political theater.
“…Pocahontas (Warren) can play political games and send toothless letters, but the Trump-Vance transition will continue to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards possible—a standard unfamiliar to a career politician whose societal impact is 1/1024th of Elon Musk’s.”
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