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Prosecutor warns against interference with Musk's

government

efficiency effort

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Musk staff reportedly blocked from accessing sensitive

information

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Trump administration exerts control over Justice

Department

probes

By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A federal prosecutor

appointed by President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk for

information about anyone trying to impede the work of the

billionaire's government efficiency effort, warning of possible

criminal sanctions, in a letter posted on platform X on Monday.

Edward Martin, the interim U.S. attorney in Washington,

D.C., said in the letter any action to threaten or confront

employees of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency "may

break numerous laws."

"Let me assure you of this: we will pursue any and all legal

action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your

people," reads the letter, which Martin posted on his personal X

account.

Musk posted a thank you in response to Martin's message.

The directive follows reports that career government

officials sought to block DOGE employees from gaining access to

sensitive information.

The Trump administration removed two top security officials at

the U.S. Agency for International Development, a top Musk

target, after they tried to stop DOGE representatives from

gaining access to secure parts of the building. The security

personnel were confronted by members of the U.S. Marshals

Service, Reuters reported.

The New York Times reported that a career Treasury Department

official unsuccessfully resisted efforts by the DOGE team to

gain access to the agency's payment system.

Martin wrote in his letter, dated Monday, that his staff

worked with the DOGE team over the weekend, without specifying

the nature of the interaction.

Martin asked Musk to refer "questionable conduct" for

potential investigation.

The Trump administration has moved to exert greater control over

the Justice Department and its investigations.

Last week the department said it was probing the release by an

upstate New York sheriff's office of an immigrant living in the

U.S. illegally, in what appeared to be its first use of a new

policy to target state and local agencies that do not comply

with Trump's directives.

Musk, the world's richest person and the chief executive of

Tesla and SpaceX as well as owner of X, is leading an

effort to dramatically cut the U.S. government. He has already

offered sweeping buyouts to the federal workforce.

Martin, as interim U.S. attorney, oversaw the dismissal of

all pending criminal cases tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on

the U.S. Capitol following a directive from Trump.

He has made several public statements supporting Trump and

denigrating his political opponents, breaking with tradition for

U.S. attorneys, who typically avoid any statement that could be

perceived as political.