Elon Musk tells federal judge he didn't violate SEC order
The Tesla founder filed a court order saying he didn't violate an agreement with the SEC about his tweets.
Tesla founder, Elon Musk, has filed a report with a federal judge challenging the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). He is challenging the SEC’S allegation that he violated a court order with his tweets.
Why is Elon Musk responding to the SEC?
Musk is responding to the SEC wanting to hold him in contempt for controversial tweets. The agency wants to hold Musk in contempt because they feel Musk inaccurately tweeted about how many cars Tesla would produce. Musk was not supposed to tweet without consent from other executives. He maintains that he didn’t violate the SEC’s agreement in the court filing.
‘The Securities and Exchange Commission's request that Musk be held in civil contempt for a single, immaterial tweet that dutifully complied with [a court-ordered settlement] is incorrect on the facts and on the law,’ said Musk in the court filing.
Musk’s comments about the SEC are also complicating the conflict between Musk and the SEC. During an interview, Musk said, ‘ I do not respect the SEC.’ Musk’s lawyers allege that he was just exercising his First Amendment rights.
‘During the interview, and consistent with his First Amendment rights, Musk was sharply critical of the SEC. The SEC’s heavy reliance on this interview in its motion for contempt smacks of retaliation and censorship,’ said Musk’s lawyers in the filing.
‘Undeterred, and perhaps embarrassed by Musk’s criticism of it, the SEC urges the court to read and apply the order in an unconstitutional manner,’ added his lawyers.
How will to the SEC respond to Musk?
The SEC may respond to Musk by continuing its attempt to hold him in contempt. Britt Latham, attorney at Bass, Berry, & Sims said that the agency wants to use this case to possibly enact stiffer penalties if Musk violates any securities laws in the future.
‘They[the SEC] are building their case. If they get a violation here, they could get the court to issue an order that puts some more teeth into the consequences of the next violation,’ said Latham.
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
CFDs are a leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.
Be ready to act on ECB opportunities
Learn how the ECB’s monetary policy announcements affect interest rates and price stability ahead of its next meeting in 12 December 2024.
- How might the next meeting affect the markets?
- What are the key rate decisions to watch?
- Why is the Governing Council announcement important for traders?
Live prices on most popular markets
- Forex
- Shares
- Indices
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.
