2025-05-18T00:55:53Z

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A former FBI agent has made serious allegations claiming that Russian intelligence sought to blackmail billionaire and close Donald Trump aide Elon Musk, leveraging his personal interests in sex and drugs as potential points of influence. This revelation came from Jonathan Buma, a former counterintelligence agent, during a documentary aired by the German broadcaster ZDF.

Buma outlined that both Musk and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel became targets of Russian operatives following the onset of the war in Ukraine. He asserted that the Russian spies collected sensitive information that could be utilized against them if deemed necessary.

In the documentary, Buma stated, “Musk’s susceptibility to promiscuous women and drug use, particularly ketamine, were seen by Russian intelligence as an opportunity for an agent to exploit.” He further elaborated that Musk's known participation in events like Burning Man, along with his affinity for adult entertainment and gambling, rendered him particularly vulnerable to such espionage tactics.

Jonathan Buma has a complicated background; he dedicated 16 years of his life to the FBI before facing legal troubles of his own. In March, he was arrested for leaking confidential information to a publishing house and was subsequently indicted on one count of Disclosure of Confidential Information. Following his arrest, he was released on a $100,000 bail.

When questioned about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved in the alleged operation, Buma claimed that it would be improbable for the agents to act without Putin's knowledge or approval. “The agents would not have gotten involved in the blackmail plot had the Russian president not known about the action and approved it,” he asserted. However, he did not disclose the source of this information, leaving a cloud of uncertainty regarding the validity of his claims.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that discussions had taken place between Musk and Putin since 2022, coinciding with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This connection raises critical questions about the extent of control that Russia could potentially exert over influential American businessmen like Musk.

Musk’s relationship with Ukraine has also been fraught with complexities. Although he initially extended his Starlink internet service free of charge to support Ukrainian forces, there were later threats to curtail that access. Both Musk and Trump publicly criticized Ukraine’s leadership in 2024, further complicating Musk’s standing in the US.

As a result of these controversies, Musk’s reputation has faced challenges, and his various business ventures, including Tesla, have encountered financial difficulties. Recently, Musk announced that he would step back from his role as chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus more on the operations of Tesla.

Just last week, Musk was seen accompanying former President Donald Trump on a tour of the Middle East. The two arrived in a motorcade led by Musk's Cybertruck and attended a high-profile dinner with the Emir of Qatar and other prominent leaders.

Published By: Satyam Singh | Published On: May 18, 2025