FBI Agent Sought Criminal Investigation of Elon Musk Over Federal Employee “Five Things” Email, Grassley-Released Record Shows

Sen. Chuck Grassley released an FBI email showing that an agent recommended opening a criminal investigation involving Elon Musk and officials at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management over the controversial email that asked federal employees to list five things they had accomplished that week.

In the February 22, 2025 email, FBI employee Kevin Gounaod wrote that he wanted to recommend opening a criminal “58 matter” into the person or people at OPM who approved transmission of the message, alleging possible misconduct connected to Musk.

The email argued that the request may have encouraged large numbers of federal workers to transmit sensitive government information beyond a strict need-to-know basis. It also raised concerns that Musk had discussed the matter publicly on X, a platform he owns.

The agent further compared the situation conceptually to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for government business and cited possible violations of federal law, including coercion-related concerns.

The record shows this was an internal recommendation by an FBI agent, not proof that Musk committed a crime or that a criminal case was ultimately opened.

Grassley released the material as part of his continuing oversight of the FBI and Justice Department.