Elon Musk fue objeto de atención por parte de Rusia, según afirma un informante del FBI | Carscoops

      A former FBI agent has claimed that he attempted to alert Musk regarding Russian influence in 2022.

      He indicated that one potential method for this influence was by inserting agents into Elon’s close circle. Nevertheless, despite the surrounding controversy, it seems that Musk was never formally investigated by the FBI.

      Being one of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals globally certainly has its advantages. After all, private jets and space explorations come with significant costs. However, this status also makes one a target. Elon Musk is undoubtedly one of those individuals, regardless of differing opinions about him.

      One figure alleged to have sought access to Musk is an entity associated with one of America’s long-standing adversaries: Russia. This assertion comes from former FBI agent and whistleblower Jonathan Buma. While the 48-year-old did not provide specifics on the reasons behind Musk’s targeting by Russian operatives, he strongly considers it a legitimate threat.

      A Significant Concern

      Buma mentioned that the means through which the Russians attempted to connect with Musk involved positioning certain individuals who gained influence within his inner circle. “These efforts were intense and ongoing,” he told the German broadcaster ZDF and the UK media outlet The Guardian. “I can’t share too many specifics,” he acknowledged, but emphasized that Musk himself was not under FBI investigation.

      Reports indicated that Buma was not the sole individual worried about Musk coming under Russian influence. In July 2022, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk’s wealth manager, Jared Birchall, had confronted him about a new adviser named Igor Kurganov. Kurganov, a former professional gambler of Russian descent, according to Birchall, “suddenly exercised immense influence over what to do with Musk’s money” after spending time with him during the pandemic.

      The FBI reportedly showed interest in Musk’s new acquaintance, with an agent making inquiries as part of his responsibility to “monitor foreign interference in U.S. companies.” However, Kurganov had no known ties to Russian espionage beyond his birthplace and was never identified as a foreign agent. Despite this, the Wall Street Journal reported that Birchall urged Musk to remove Kurganov from his position at Musk’s private foundation in May 2022, which he did.

      Musk's Connections

      How Elon chose to allocate his funds did not significantly concern U.S. intelligence, but the individuals with whom the head of Tesla—and more crucially, SpaceX—engaged regarding personal, business, and geopolitical matters likely did.

      According to the same Wall Street Journal report from 2024, Musk had allegedly been “in regular contact” with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. Nonetheless, Musk denied this, stating in a recent Bloomberg interview that, apart from a video call five years ago, he had not spoken to the Russian president.

      While China may have overtaken the USSR as the prominent U.S. adversary on the global stage, underestimating Putin's Russia would be a significant error. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of Russia's geopolitical relevance. Though not as technologically advanced as the U.S. or China, it holds considerable influence, enabling it to participate in global governance discussions.

      Tesla Must Address Its Challenges, Not Worry About Its CEO

      These circumstances could place Musk and Tesla in a challenging position, particularly with Musk potentially being a target from enemy number one while his company operates in the territory of enemy number two. However, this does not necessarily imply that Elon is compromised; he might merely be a businessman aiming to enhance his companies’ profits.

      Nevertheless, with Musk leaning more towards politics and forming a close alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump, the situation has become considerably more complex. The intersection of finance, politics, and power often leads to complications. Tesla has, to date, encountered significant backlash against Musk’s political stance. Ultimately, declining stock prices and dwindling sales may only scratch the surface of the issues—ironically, Elon himself could be held responsible for many challenges facing his company.