Senators Call for DOJ Probe Into Elon Musk's Alleged Use of Government Role to Influence X Advertisers

Lawmakers express concern over reports that Musk leveraged his position in the Trump administration to pressure advertisers and influence a major corporate merger.

• Five Democratic senators have written to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting an investigation into whether Elon Musk used his government role to coerce advertisers into returning to X, his social media platform.
• The senators cite reports that Musk or his associates may have implied policy repercussions for advertisers who did not comply, raising potential violations of federal ethics laws.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that advertising company Interpublic Group interpreted communications from X as a threat to its $13 billion merger with Omnicom Group, allegedly tied to Musk's influence in the administration.
• The senators also urged the Federal Trade Commission and DOJ's antitrust division to ensure their review of the merger remains free from political or business interference.
• Concerns over Musk's potential conflicts of interest have grown since his appointment to head the Department of Government Efficiency under President Trump, with critics citing his dual roles in government and private business.

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