--- title: "Elon Musk’s Lawyer Accuses Government of “Leaking” Information About Him" description: "Posters’ Brain Elon Musk’s back at it again, folks — and this time, he’s accusing the federal government of leaking. Following up on his claim that the Securities and Exchange Commission was trying to harass him into silence, Musk’s attorney accused the commission, without providing evidence or support, of “leaking certain information” in an ongoing […]" date: "2022-02-22" modified: "2022-02-22" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-accuses-government-leaks" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "sec" - "Stocks" - "the digest" --- # Elon Musk’s Lawyer Accuses Government of “Leaking” Information About Him ![Elon Musk's back at it again, folks — and this time, he's accusing the federal government's Securities and Exchange Commission of leaking.]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## Poster Brain Elon Musk's back at it again, folks — and this time, his attorney is accusing the federal government of leaking. Following up on his claim that the Securities and Exchange Commission was [trying to harass him into silence](), Musk's attorney [accused the commission]() of "leaking certain information" in an ongoing retaliation campaign against the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. This alleged campaign supposedly began back in 2018, when the SEC investigated Musk for tweeting about selling Tesla stock at $420 a share and taking the company private, [eventually charging him]() with misleading investors. Though that case was settled in 2018 after Musk and Tesla paid $20 million each in fines, [new reporting]() about the commission subpoenaing the CEO in recent months has reignited the debacle. This most recent pair of letters, both written and sent by Musk's attorney Alex Spiro, were addressed to US District Judge Alison Nathan, who presided over the 2018 settlement. Though the case is no longer on the judge's docket, Spiro addressed the letters to her to mediate a meeting between the SEC and Musk. ## Subpoena Frenzy The SEC's November 2021 subpoena, [as *CNBC* reported last week](), came just after [Musk once again tweeted about selling off Tesla stock]() — something that he arguably wasn't supposed to do per the 2018 settlement that saw him stepping down as Tesla chair and [accepting oversight from the company]() on all online communications. In his letters to Judge Nathan, however, Musk's attorney suggests that the commission is investigating his client for criticizing the government. The letters also highlight the SEC's slow progress on disbursing the $40 million Tesla and Musk paid to settle the case, though in [its own statements to *CNBC*](), the commission said that it was moving forward with the difficult task and would submit a "plan for disbursement" by March. So far, Musk's attorney has given little in the way of evidence to support the accusation that the government is engaged in a retaliation campaign against him. Nevertheless, these escalating claims show that, if nothing else, he's not going to go softly into another settlement if the SEC charges him again. *Updated with details about the letter.* **READ MORE:** [Tesla CEO Elon Musk accuses SEC of leaking information from federal probe]() \[*CNBC*\] **More on Musk's bad tweets:** *[Elon Musk Deletes Adolf Hitler Tweet After Widespread Outrage]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()