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Senator Richard Blumenthal is demanding answers from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding a reported $400 million plan to purchase armored Tesla Cybertrucks for diplomatic transport. The State Department stated the contract was initiated under the Biden administration but was later halted. However, Blumenthal, a key figure in the Senate investigations subcommittee, questioned whether the Trump administration backdated documents to shift responsibility.
"If that occurred, it raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly given Elon Musk’s close ties to Trump," Blumenthal wrote. Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has advised Trump on policies aimed at reducing federal government spending.
The State Department confirmed it sought interest from private companies for armored electric vehicles, receiving a sole response from Tesla in May 2024. However, the bidding process remains on hold. Officials declined to address Blumenthal’s concerns about potential document backdating.
Musk’s government contracts have faced scrutiny before. Questions persist regarding a $2.4 billion Federal Aviation Administration telecommunications deal with Verizon, amid speculation that Musk’s Starlink, a division of SpaceX, could become a contender.
Tesla has yet to comment on the issue.
