Washington, Sept. 19 (EFE).- The United States Department of Justice has expanded its investigation into the personal benefits Elon Musk received from his company Tesla indicating it could be interested in pursuing criminal charges, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

The Justice Department is now reviewing transactions between the company and other entities linked to its CEO and a major shareholder, and could pursue criminal charges for failing to disclose personal benefits Musk may have received from Tesla in connection with a construction project.

Companies are required to disclose any transaction over $120,000 that profits an executive directly, as well as personal benefits of more than $10,000 paid to executives.

In August, the WSJ revealed that the Justice Department had opened an investigation into Tesla's use of funds to finance a secret construction project in Austin, Texas, that reportedly included a residence for Musk, the automaker's chief executive.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has also launched an investigation into the project, known internally at Tesla as "Project 42," which included a large glass house.

According to the WSJ, Tesla's own board of directors investigated the company's purchase of tens of millions of dollars worth of special glass that would have been used for "Project 42."

Musk moved Tesla's headquarters from California to Austin in December 2021. EFE

© 2023 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc., source EFE Ingles