Alleged talks between billionaire and Russian president could have enormous security implications

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man who is now central to Donald Trump’s election campaign, has been in regular contact with Vladimir Putin for the past two years, according to a report in the US.

The Wall Street Journal, citing several in-post and former US, European and Russian officials, reported that the conversations between the two men ranged from the personal to the geopolitical and included a request from the Russian leader not to activate his Starlink ​​satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favour to the Chinese leader and Putin ally, Xi Jinping.

  • Justin@lemmy.jlh.nameEnglish
    242·
    11 days ago

    Isn’t this espionage/treason? He has security clearance, he should not have contact with foreign government officials or sabotage our allies.

      • jordanlund@lemmy.worldMEnglish
        47·
        10 days ago

        Removed, advocating violence. Plus, isn’t Musk still a foreign national? Not sure how “Treason” applies to non-Americans.

        • subignition@fedia.io
          14·
          10 days ago

          You’re kidding me… I was discussing whether his actions meet the definition of a crime and therefore whether the established legal punishment would be appropriate. As others have commented he IS an American citizen (from 2002) and there’s no question of jurisdiction here. Although treason is a very high bar (despite mounting evidence) and it is much more likely that he could be got for sedition under the Smith Act or something.

          I disagree with your decision. I think your effort would be better spent focusing on the folks actually advocating for vigilantism.