Elon Musk Accuses the SEC of Trying to Keep Him From Posting Dumb Tweets

He says it’s an attack on his right to free speech.

Enough!

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has some strong words for the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Musk has now accused the SEC of attempting to "chill" his free speech during its investigation into his controversial tweet about taking Tesla private in 2018, Reuters reports. The SpaceX founder made his frustrations known in a sternly worded letter via his lawyer to US District Judge Alison Nathan on Thursday.

The judge presided over a 2018 settlement between the SEC and Musk, which included the stipulation that some of his tweets needed to be vetted by Tesla before being posted. However, it’s unclear what the judge could do to help alleviate what he calls an "endless" and "unrelenting" investigation by the SEC.

"Mr. Musk and Tesla respectfully seek a course correction," the letter, which was seen by Reuters, reads. "Enough is enough."

Bad Tweet

The letter comes after news broke that the SEC subpoenaed Tesla again in November 2021, CNBC reports. That subpoena came shortly after Musk polled his Twitter followers asking if he should sell 10 percent of his Tesla shares.

Musk’s letter claims that the SEC keeps bothering him because he’s often critical of the US government — not because they might be in violation of securities law. 

"Worst of all, the SEC seems to be targeting Mr. Musk and Tesla for unrelenting investigation largely because Mr. Musk remains an outspoken critic of the government; the SEC's outsized efforts seem calculated to chill his exercise of First Amendment rights," the letter said. 

Let’s be honest. It’s laughable to think that one of the world’s most powerful and wealthy men, who also wields a massive platform with millions of followers, is being "silenced" in any particular way. 

And if history is any indication, nothing’s going to stop Elon from tweeting every silly thing that pops into his head — no matter how dumb and harmful.

READ MORE: Elon Musk, Tesla attack SEC for ‘unrelenting’ harassment [Reuters]

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