A “shameless” Indiana Democrat is so anti-Elon Musk he’s pushing laws to rein within the billionaire’s energy, but drives round in a Tesla leased with taxpayer dough, information present.
Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind) has denounced the Tesla founder as untrustworthy and final month launched a invoice in direct response to Musk and the “shameful invasion of Americans’ privacy.”
However Carson, 50, apparently has no qualms — a minimum of till The Put up inquired — about cruising round in one in all Musk’s Teslas.
The most recent Home disbursement information present Carson claimed nearly $11,000 of public cash final yr to pay Tesla Finance LLC for the lease of one in all its vehicles.
Carson was one in all greater than 40 lawmakers final yr who made use of a inexperienced scheme that permits them to entry public cash to lease a car to be used of their constituency as long as it’s listed by the Environmental Safety Company as a “low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.
The progressive lawmaker has been one in all Musk’s main critics this yr.
In statements attacking spending cuts, he warned federal staff towards taking buyouts pushed by the richest man on the planet.
“President Trump and Musk have no legal authority to make these offers, and you will likely be ripped off in the process,” he mentioned final month.
And he added that their efforts to slash the federal workforce represented “dictatorship not efficiency.”
Final month, Carson, who has represented his district since 2008, signed on to laws designed to cease folks with conflicts of curiosity or and not using a safety clearance from accessing the extremely delicate Treasury Division cost system, which incorporates Social Safety and Medicare funds.
“Our Taxpayer Data Protection Act will hold the Trump Administration accountable and prevent Musk and his minions from rifling through the private data of everyday Americans,” he mentioned on the time.
Carson spokeswoman Caroline Ellert informed The Put up this week her boss received’t be renewing his Tesla lease inked in 2023 when it ends in October subsequent yr.
Ellert mentioned the lease was made in accordance with Home guidelines and finalized earlier than Musk endorsed President Trump in July final yr.
“It reflects the congressman’s commitment to clean energy, American vehicles, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels – it’s not a political endorsement of Mr. Musk,” she insisted.
“Congressman Carson has philosophical differences with Mr. Musk, particularly DOGE’s negative impact on Indianapolis facilities and the federal workforce. He will not be renewing his lease.”
Democrats and woke celebrities have been turning their backs on Tesla, as soon as the darling of the environmentally aware crowd.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly introduced earlier this month he was promoting his Tesla Mannequin S, becoming a member of the likes of singer Sheryl Crow, who ditched her Cybertruck.
Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was as soon as among the many most excessive profile Tesla drivers. However her workplace didn’t reply to questions on whether or not she made good on a 2023 promise to commerce hers in for a union-built automobile.
“It’s very superficial and very transparent what they’re doing,” mentioned Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Ten). “They thought Musk was their ultimate billionaire — all rich and woke.
“They made these assumptions and now they look stupid and shameless,” he added.
