Neither Musk nor a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, which the Journal said was carrying out the probe, immediately responded to requests for comment. The Journal reported in July that Tesla board members had investigated whether company resources were misused on the effort. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has also opened a civil probe, the Journal reported. Prosecutors were seeking information about personal benefits to Musk, the world's richest man, as well as how much Tesla spent on the project and what it was for, the Journal reported. The paper said prosecutors were also looking into a lower-than-expected driving range on Tesla's electric vehicles.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 31, 2023 08:20 UTC