On Friday, a group of 18 House Republicans addressed a letter to Twitter board members requesting that they keep any records and materials related to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s attempt to buy the company.
“As Congress considers Big Tech and how to best protect Americans’ free speech rights, this letter serves as a formal request that you preserve all records and materials relating to Musk’s offer to purchase Twitter, including Twitter’s consideration and response to this offer, and Twitter’s evaluation of its shareholder interests with respect to Musk’s offer,” said the letter signed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and others.
Many predict that Republicans will retake control of the House of Representatives in November, allowing them to launch a formal inquiry into Twitter and potentially demand Tesla information.
The letter was first reported by CNBC on Friday.
Republicans have chastised Twitter for actions such as blocking former US President Donald Trump’s account, citing the potential of future instigation of violence following the storming of the US Capitol.
According to a statement with US regulators, Musk said on Thursday that he has secured $46.5 billion in debt and equity financing to buy Twitter and is considering taking his bid directly to shareholders.
Musk, the world’s richest man, according to Forbes, made a “best and last” cash offer of $43 billion to Twitter’s board of directors on April 14, claiming that the social media firm needed to be taken private in order to expand and become a platform for free speech.
When Twitter didn’t reply to his offer, it created a “poison pill” to stop him. According to the document, Musk is also exploring a tender offer to buy all of the company’s equity from shareholders but has yet to decide.
“The board is dedicated to completing a careful, comprehensive, and deliberate assessment to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interest,” Twitter stated on Thursday in response to the letter.