Calls For Ethics Investigation Into Lutnick's Tesla Endorsement

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is under scrutiny for publicly endorsing Tesla Inc.'s stock, encouraging Americans to buy shares during a Fox News appearance. His remarks have raised ethics concerns, prompting Congressman Gerry Connolly to request an investigation into potential violations of federal ethics laws. Critics argue that Lutnick's promotion of Tesla represents a conflict of interest, especially given his past ties to Cantor Fitzgerald, a firm that upgraded Tesla's stock on the same day as his endorsement. The Campaign Legal Center has also called for an investigation, asserting that Lutnick's comments could constitute a flagrant violation of ethics rules that prohibit government officials from promoting private companies. As Tesla's stock has plummeted amid protests and management controversies, calls for Elon Musk's resignation as CEO are growing louder. This controversy highlights increasing tensions between the Trump administration and government accountability mechanisms, which have been weakened in recent years.