Democrats have targeted X/SpaceX/Tesla CEO Elon Musk since he maneuvered to take over X (then Twitter) and retool it as a free-speech platform.
On Thursday, the Daily Mail reported that Democrats launched a “probe” investigating claims that Musk’s Starlink satellite system is a “serious threat to US national security.”
Two Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have accused Musk of illegally providing internet service to battle-ravaged areas in Ukraine, using his Starlink system via his SpaceX business.
Reps. Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia wrote in the letter to Starlink president Gwynne Shotwell: “We are concerned that you may not have appropriate guardrails and policies in place.”
NEW: RMs @RepRaskin and @RepRobertGarcia sent a letter to SpaceX, launching an investigation into Russia's alleged illegal use of Starlink internet satellites in its ongoing and brutal invasion of Ukraine.https://t.co/5fiO04s3oe
— Oversight Committee Democrats (@OversightDems) March 7, 2024
The Washington Post reported that Democrats assert Musk possibly provided Russia with security risk information via their purported acquisition of satellite-enabled terminals.
House Oversight Committee members referenced claims from Ukrainian intelligence officials who reported: “Russian troops are using Starlink terminals to coordinate war efforts in eastern Ukraine.”
Raskin and Garcia said of the report: “Russia’s alleged use of Starlink poses a serious threat to Ukraine’s security, Ukrainian lives, and US national security.”
In February, Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told The Wall Street Journal that Russian troops had been utilizing the Starlink system for communications “for quite a long time.”
Budanov asserted that Russia had gained access by acquiring terminals from private Russian firms who purchased them from intermediaries, which allowed the transactions to go undetected.
Starlink administrators stated they do not do business “in or with Russia.”
Musk stated: “A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false.”
A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia.
This is categorically false.
To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2024
Russia has also denied using Starlink services. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “[Starlink] is not a certified system [and] cannot be officially supplied [and] … it cannot be used officially in any way.”
Notably, Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink for internet and communications support. The Pentagon has reportedly assisted in funding Starlink services for Ukrainians.
