'I'm not kidding': FBI agent wanted to charge Elon Musk for asking federal workers what they did that week

A declassified email shows an FBI special agent, Kevin Gounaud, proposed investigating Elon Musk for inquiring about the daily activities of federal workers. The agent's email, dated March 29, 2023, suggested charging Musk under a statute related to interfering with government functions. This proposal was reportedly made after Musk, through X (formerly Twitter), asked federal employees to share their job duties.

This incident raises questions about the boundaries of public inquiry directed at government employees and the potential for law enforcement to interpret such actions as criminal interference. The agent's desire to initiate a criminal investigation, even if it did not proceed, highlights a tension between private citizens' attempts to understand government operations and the established protocols and protections afforded to federal employees.