Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times,
An FBI agent pitched investigating Elon Musk for his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to an email released on Sept. 15.
FBI agent Kevin Gounaud wrote in the Feb. 22, 2025, missive to a supervisor that he wanted to recommend opening a criminal investigation into the person or people at the Office of Personnel Management who approved transmitting an email to government workers about what they had done the previous week.
That person was conspiring with Musk “to violate government-wide security policy and transmit sensitive government information outside of a strict need to know,” Gounaud said.
“Furthermore, Musk used a non-government system (Twitter) to relate information that allegedly was for official purposes,” he said.
“In doing so, because he is monetized … he likely generated income for himself based on Twitter’s monetization and/or advertising revenues.”
Gounaud compared Musk’s action to how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a private email server to conduct government business.
The FBI declined to take action against Clinton, determining she lacked criminal intent.
Gounaud said Musk also likely violated a federal law that bars executive branch employees from participating in government matters that impact their own interests.
“Happy to write the case opening and find a prosecutor (or at least try),” the agent told the supervisor.
He added later, “And no, I’m not kidding.”
Gounaud could not be reached for comment.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released the letter as senators questioned FBI Director Kash Patel during a hearing in Washington.
Grassley said the email, along with other evidence from actions taken by additional agents, “undercut public statements by former FBI officials that agents don’t get to pick their cases.”
The FBI and Musk did not return requests for comment by the time of publication.
Patel told senators that the FBI has fired agents who were involved in certain probes, including collecting intelligence in a malfeasant manner.
“And in terms of criminal investigations that sprout from that, I can only comment on what’s been public, but there are a number of ongoing investigations regarding this illegal conduct,” he said.
Gounaud is no longer with the FBI, as of February, according to his LinkedIn page. He had been with the bureau since 2004.
Musk’s time as a special government employee concluded in the spring of 2025, while DOGE formally shut down in July.
Musk has not been charged to date.
It was not clear whether Grassley has obtained other emails involving Gounaud, including any responses the latter received to his pitch for a probe of Musk.
A spokeswoman for the senator did not return contact following an inquiry.
