The Pentagon has initiated an investigation incorporating polygraph tests to hunt down leakers after Elon Musk called for the prosecution of any Defence Department officials spreading “maliciously false information” about his dealings with the military.
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In response to accusations surrounding Musk’s recent visit to the Pentagon, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an investigation into “unauthorised disclosures” of national security information with those found responsible to “be referred to the appropriate criminal law enforcement entity for criminal prosecution”.
Musk, the world’s richest man with billions of dollars in defence contracts, visited the Pentagon on Friday for a conversation about cost-cutting and innovation. The visit sparked controversy before it began after The New York Times reported that Musk was to get a top secret briefing about the US military’s planning for any potential war with China.
The Times, which cited multiple unidentified US officials familiar with the matter, said Musk was scheduled to view sensitive US military strategies concerning China, potentially exposing critical Pentagon secrets given Musk’s substantial business interests there.
Musk’s views on Beijing have also provoked concern. He has called Taiwan “an integral part of China” and once suggested that the self-ruled island become an administrative zone of mainland China.
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Trump won’t let Europe turn Uncle Sam into ‘Uncle Sucker’, US defence chief says
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Both President Donald Trump and defence chief Hegseth denied there were ever any plans for Musk to get such a high-level briefings. In the Oval Office on Friday, Trump acknowledged Musk’s potential conflict when he explained why he would never give him such a briefing.