Elon Musk Intensifies Criticism of SEC, Calls for Release of Unspecified Footage

Elon Musk on Wednesday launched a sharp verbal attack on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), posting on X: “Release the footage, you evil bastards!” alongside a link to a petition demanding the SEC release unspecified video records. The sudden escalation in Musk’s conflict with the regulator appears to stem from ongoing disputes over his compliance with a court-ordered oversight agreement and recent subpoenas from the SEC into his platform’s compliance with securities laws.

The tweet, which quickly garnered millions of views, reflects Musk’s mounting frustration with the SEC as he faces increasing scrutiny over his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter (now X) and his handling of Dogecoin-related lawsuits. The petition linked in the post, hosted on Change.org, calls for the immediate release of “all video footage related to SEC interactions with Elon Musk,” though it provides no specifics about which incidents or dates are referenced. This move is likely to inflame tensions between Musk and SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who has been aggressive in enforcing crypto regulations.

Market reaction was muted, with Tesla shares down 0.8% and Dogecoin slipping 1.2% in early trading, as investors seem to view the outburst as more noise in Musk’s long-running regulatory saga rather than a material threat. However, legal experts suggest that if Musk refuses to comply with SEC demands, the agency could seek sanctions or hold him in contempt of court, potentially leading to financial penalties or restrictions on his corporate roles.