Billionaire Elon Musk may have a novel role within the Trump administration, but the title that allows him to serve in the government has drawn the ire of ethics watchdogs for decades.
Musk’s status as a special government employee protects him from typical ethics disclosures, a loophole that has been used by administrations from both parties since the last century.
“Special government employees have been a pain in the neck since Day One,” said Richard Painter, the chief ethics lawyer for former President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007. “They handle issues that may affect their businesses, but there are no public financial disclosures to keep track of them.”
For Musk, the world’s richest man, the possible conflicts of interest are colossal. He is a large government contractor who has had multiple dealings with agencies that regulate his businesses.
As a…
