The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that Elon Musk is a seemingly constant presence at Donald Trump's side, to the point that he danced with him on New Year's Eve. The Globe's Adrian Morrow writes that the world's richest man has also directly intervened on specific government policies. In a single week last month, he successfully cajoled Republican members of Congress to kill a government funding bill and sparked an internecine fight among Mr. Trump's supporters over U.S. visas for high-skilled workers. Mr. Musk's apparent influence over the returning president is drawing conflict-of-interest accusations, given that his corporate empire is heavily dependent on government money and favourable regulations. "I certainly can't think of another example that rises to the level of financial involvement of a single individual influencing an election," said Erin Chlopak of Campaign Legal Center, a Washington watchdog that advocates tougher enforcement of campaign finance laws. Mr. Musk benefited from a Federal Election Commission decision that relaxed campaign finance rules, she said. "He stands to reap personal financial benefits from the influence he has displayed in this administration and this election."
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