Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to clarify that a letter from Elon Musk’s lawyer says Musk had 48 hours to accept a SEC settlement offer relative to an investigation into Musk’s purchase of Twitter.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has reopened an investigation into Elon Musk‘s brain-chip startup Neuralink, according to a letter shared by Musk on social media platform X on Thursday.
What Happened: The Dec. 12 correspondence from Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro to outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler also said the commission has issued a settlement demand, giving Musk 48 hours to accept a settlement offer in the agency’s investigation into Musk’s $44-billion purchase of Twitter or face multiple charges. The specific amount demanded was not disclosed in the letter.
Musk quipped, “Oh Gary, how could you do this to me?”
This latest probe follows a history of regulatory scrutiny for Musk. In 2018, he settled an SEC lawsuit over Tesla Inc. TSLA social media posts about taking the company private, paying a $20 million fine, and agreeing to have Tesla lawyers review certain communications.
Why It Matters: Last year, four lawmakers requested the SEC to investigate potential securities fraud related to Neuralink’s brain implant safety claims. The investigation comes as Neuralink advances its brain-computer interface technology, recently receiving FDA approval for human trials and successfully implanting devices in two patients.
Spiro’s letter emphasized that Musk and his legal team would not be intimidated by the SEC and reserved their legal rights. The SEC and Neuralink did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for a statement.
The investigation arrives at a complex political moment. Musk has reportedly spent over $250 million supporting President-elect Donald Trump‘s campaign and has been appointed to a government task force planning significant administrative reforms.
Neuralink continues to push technological boundaries, with recent trials demonstrating patients’ ability to control computer cursors and play video games using brain-computer interface technology. The company aims to develop solutions for neurological disorders and expand human-technology interaction.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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