Both the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating Tesla over a shadowy company division or initiative referred to as “Project 42”.
Insider knows, that the activity, dubbed suspiciously just Project 42, actually covers building a greenhouse for Elon Musk. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) wrote a detailed report on the case. Citing informed sources, the business paper claims that the US Department of Justice (DOC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are trying to investigate the matter. Whether Musk spends company money on private purchases, and how much Tesla finances this current project.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has issued subpoenas to several former and current Tesla employees, some of whom were called to appear in court in September.
However, neither the DOC nor the SEC nor Tesla’s management were willing to reveal details about the investigation.
In July, The Wall Street Journal reported that the project includes plans for a glass building near Tesla’s massive factory in Austin, Texas, which insiders said would house Tesla’s CEO. The project is said to include a “dramatic building with glass walls” that houses various living units, such as bedrooms.
Afshar Moin’s project came to the attention of the authorities after news of a request for a special type of glass. Investigative journalists then reached out to Omid Afshar, one of the managers of the Tesla factory in Texas, who was allegedly involved in the procurement of building materials. However, the man refused to comment.
It may be illegal to use company funds for personal expenses – especially if it is a publicly traded company. If such simplicity is discovered, it could lead to an investigation by the tax authorities and a lawsuit by the shareholders.
