Prof. Richard Painter Quoted by Los Angeles Times About Elon Musk and What He Stands to Gain with White House Connections

Professor Richard Painter, S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law, was quoted by the Los Angeles Times about Elon Musk’s influence now that Donald Trump will be in the White House. Trump has named Musk to co-head a the new Department of Government Efficiency. Federal law bars executive branch employees, which can include unpaid consultants from participating in government matters that will affect their financial interests, like Musk’s SpaceX, unless they divest of their interests or recuse themselves. Trump's transition team has sought a work-around, saying he would “provide advice and guidance from outside of Government” with the work concluding by July 2026. Prof. Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, said that if Musk is truly working outside the government he doesn't have to sell his assets, but that limits his influence. He said, “He can make recommendations, but ultimately the decisions are made by government officials.”