Bipartisan Calls To Subpoena Musk Come After Report That He Slowed Ukraine’s Access to Starshield System

A bipartisan chorus is now calling for investigations — and possibly a subpoena for Elon Musk — after Mr. Musk reportedly directed SpaceX to slow down the speed of Starshield in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Musk had personally made the decision to do so, which hampered Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming Russian drones. Mr. Musk has denied responsibility, saying that he has no power over how the system is used on the battlefield. He claims the only person who would have the power to do so would be President Trump, who has also said he knows nothing about the situation. After the Journal’s report, lawmakers were quick to call for investigations, including the possibility of issuing Mr. Musk himself for public testimony before Congress. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican from the suburbs of Philadelphia, said Congress could go as far as issuing a subpoena for Mr. Musk once lawmakers return after the midterm elections. Mr. Fitzpatrick is one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine in either party. “We’ve got to call the witnesses, we’ve got to bring them in, put them under oath, and get to the bottom of it,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said on CNN late Tuesday night. “This is a very, very serious matter.”“If it is, in fact, Mr. Musk [who] ordered this, that is likely a violation of the law,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said. “I’ve spoken to several of my colleagues across the aisle over the past several days. There is a strong, strong resolve to, immediately upon our return, get to the bottom of this.”“There’ve gotta be consequences,” he concluded. Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, said in an X post that it would be wise for Mr. Musk to not even wait to be subpoenaed. “@elonmusk you don’t have to wait for a subpoena, you can just come in on your own,” Mr. Gallego wrote. Both Messrs. Musk and Trump have denied having had anything to do with the slowdown of internet service which has been critical to Ukrainian air defenses. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House last week, Mr. Trump said it “wasn’t me” when asked about the slowdown. Mr. Musk had earlier said that Starshield systems are controlled by the U.S. government, and that he could not even slow the system down if he wanted to. “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Mr. Musk wrote on X last week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denied having any knowledge of the slowdown, insisting that no one at the White House had done anything and that it really was a non-issue because service had been restored. “Nobody ordered the speed to be slowed down,” Mr. Rubio told reporters during his trip to Uzbekistan on Sunday. “No one at the White House ordered anyone to slow down internet or slow down speed so that certain drones couldn’t use it. My understanding is it’s back up and running.”Another member of Congress, Senator Adam Schiff, said it is paramount to investigate the throttling of Starshield systems, especially now that both the president and Mr. Musk have denied responsibility. Mr. Schiff once served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. “Either the President was lying or Musk was lying, but the decision to slow down satellite speed and access has life or death consequences for Ukraine,” Mr. Schiff said in a statement Tuesday night. “This deserves a full investigation by the Senate. Elon Musk should be compelled to testify before Congress and under oath.”Before the Journal’s report came out on Tuesday, Congressman Mike Turner, a well-respected Russia hawk and former Intelligence Committee chairman, said on Sunday that the slowdown of Starshield systems should be probed. “This is something where there needs to be an investigation, there needs to be a congressional investigation,” Mr. Turner said during an appearance on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “We need to find out who these people are.”Mr. Trump has taken a softer approach to Russia and President Putin in recent days, with critics saying that he is pausing sanctions, pushing for the export of Russian diesel, and demanding President Zelensky stop attacks on Russia refineries because he is worried about the cost of energy in the lead-up to the midterm elections. Mr. Trump has said Mr. Zelensky should be removed from his position. During an appearance on British journalist Piers Morgan’s show last week, Mr. Zelensky was asked if he felt he was losing the critical backing of the United States. “Yes,” he responded curtly.

Bipartisan Calls To Subpoena Musk Come After Report That He Slowed Ukraine’s Access to Starshield System

Bipartisan Calls To Subpoena Musk Come After Report That He Slowed Ukraine’s Access to Starshield System

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