‘Is That True?’ Abby Phillip Presses House Republican After He’s Accused of Taking Money from Musk
Former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) put Rep. Mike Lawler on the defensive, saying the lawmaker is beholden to Elon Musk.
On Thursday night, The New York Times reported that Musk, a White House adviser and U.S. defense contractor with major business interests in China, will receive a Pentagon briefing on Friday regarding plans for a potential war with the country. On the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2021, Musk praised China’s “economic prosperity.”
The White House has stated that Musk will police his own conflicts.
Shortly after the report dropped, Abby Phillip asked Lawler on CNN NewsNight if he’s concerned.
“Are you concerned about the fact that he would be given a briefing about war plans?” she asked. “I mean, these are literally the most sensitive of secrets.”
Phillip went on to note Musk’s business interests in China, which include an auto factory and battery plant in Shanghai, and said Musk “has competition interests trying to kick other contractors potentially out of contracts for these very war plans. Is that concerning?”
Here is the remainder of that exchange among Phillip, Lawler, and Bowman:
LAWLER: Again, any conflicts of interest should be addressed. But in the case of, obviously Starlink, we see the United States military is utilizing Starlink with respect to military plans. The United States Navy uses it significantly. Obviously, when you’re talking about issues pertaining to China and their expansion in the Indo-Pacific, the threats against Taiwan, obviously these are significant issues. So, look, any conflict should be addressed, no question about that. But it is the secretary and the president that actually have the authority to provide the need-to-know.
PHILLIP: They do, but it doesn’t mean that it’s wise. Congressman [Bowman]?
BOWMAN: So, notice Congressman Lawler did not answer the yes or no question. Should this be concerning? Yes, absolutely. Elon Musk is trying to be the real-life Tony Stark and we can see him coming a mile away. We don’t trust Elon Musk. That’s why the American people are up in arms in protests and in town halls in Republican districts across the country. They are pissed off based on what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing, firing tens of thousands of workers, only for the courts to reverse the firing. This is absolutely a conflict of interest, but the Trump administration and Elon Musk, they don’t care. Elon is trying to be the first trillionaire and he wants to be an oligarch that not just controls American governments, he wants to control world governments and Congressman Lawler is not going to criticize him because Elon Musk is a major donor to Congressman Lawler’s reelection campaigns. And that’s the problem. We don’t have Republicans in Congress–
PHILLIP: Is that true, Congressman Lawler?
BOWMAN: It’s very true.
PHILLIP: That he’s a major donor to your campaign?
LAWLER: Not directly. No, not directly to my campaign. He had an independent expenditure that he spent on dozens of congressional races.
Donors are limited in the amount of money they may give specifically to candidates in a given year. However, there is no limit on independent expenditures, where individuals may spend millions (or more) to advocate for or against candidates. Last election cycle, Musk spent nearly $300 million trying to return Trump to the White House.
Last year, Musk’s America PAC spent nearly $1 million to reelect Lawler, who represents New York’s 17th congressional district.
Watch above via CNN.
