SEC Subpoenas Tesla Seeking Information Linked to Elon Musk Settlement

The Securities and Exchange Commission has subpoenaed

for information about compliance with a court-ordered settlement requiring a company lawyer to preapprove certain of

Elon Musk’s

tweets.

Tesla said in a regulatory filing made public Monday that the SEC is seeking information on “governance processes around compliance” with a settlement related to Mr. Musk’s 2018 tweet claiming to have secured funding to potentially take the electric-vehicle maker private.

Mr. Musk paid $20 million to settle an SEC enforcement action alleging that he committed fraud by tweeting about a potential buyout and agreed to have his social media posts and other public statements overseen by a Tesla lawyer. He also agreed to relinquish his role as company chairman.

Tesla said in the securities filing that the SEC issued the subpoena on Nov. 16.

Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The SEC declined to comment.

This year, billionaire CEO Elon Musk reached several milestones across Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink. WSJ reporters Rebecca Elliott and Micah Maidenberg break down some of his biggest moments in 2021 and what’s to come in 2022. Illustration: Tom Grillo

Write to Rebecca Elliott at rebecca.elliott@wsj.com

A Tesla dealership in Colma, Calif.