Space X President Defends Elon Musk On Sexual Assault, Shotwell: The Allegations Are False

SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell doesn't believe Elon Musk sexually abused her. (photo; doc. twitter)

JAKARTA - SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell sent an email to media companies last week responding to reports of allegations of sexual assault against CEO Elon Musk. He stated that he did not believe the accusations were true.

The email was first reported by CNBC and reviewed by The Verge. She also reiterated that SpaceX has a "Zero tolerance" policy for harassment.

“Personally, I believe the accusations are false; not because I work for Elon, but because I have worked with him for 20 years and have never seen or heard anything resembling these allegations," Shotwell wrote in an email. "Anyone who knew Elon as I did, would know that he would never commit or condone this alleged inappropriate behavior."

Last week, Business Insider published a report alleging that SpaceX paid the company's former flight attendant $250.000 after he accused Musk of exposing himself and "proposing" to him while massaging him.

Musk has since denied the allegations, though he told Insider there was "much more to this story" while also calling the article a "politically motivated hit piece."

"If I'm inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first to come to light in my 30-year career," Musk told Business Insider.

In his email to company employees, titled "The latest news stories," Shotwell argued that "every accusation of harassment is taken very seriously, regardless of who is involved" and that SpaceX's HR division investigates all claims it receives.

He did not mention the alleged $250.000 payment. "For privacy reasons, I will never comment on any legal issues involving employment issues," Shotwell wrote.