Elon Musk has been having a political evolution, particularly over the past couple of months since he declared his intent to buy Twitter. He capped that evolution two days ago when he said that he could not vote for Democrats again and would be voting for Republicans in the next election.

In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party.

But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.

Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold … 🍿

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2022

“But they have become the party of division & hate,” Musk said. “So I can no longer support them and will vote Republican. Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold…🍿”

We didn’t have to wait long. As we reported last night, Business Insider dropped a sketchy report about an old sexual assault claim involving a SpaceX flight attendant that allegedly took place back in 2016 and resulted in a $250,000 settlement and non-disclosure agreement.  As Bonchie notes, there wasn’t anything that would make this “current” to run as a news story except his heightened public profile with the Twitter buy and the various efforts to run him down because of it. In the statement he gave to Business Insider, Musk denied the claim.

“If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light,” he wrote, calling the story a “politically motivated hit piece.”

The SpaceX CEO requested more time to respond, and while Business Insider did give him more time, he did not respond by press time. Christopher Cardaci, the company’s vice president of legal, told the outlet, “I’m not going to comment on any settlement agreements.”

He said it wasn’t going to stop him from “fighting for a good future and your right to free speech.”

The attacks against me should be viewed through a political lens – this is their standard (despicable) playbook – but nothing will deter me from fighting for a good future and your right to free speech

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2022

But he didn’t leave it there. On Thursday night, Musk addressed it even further on Twitter and he challenged the “victim’ to prove the claim.

But I have a challenge to this liar who claims their friend saw me “exposed” – describe just one thing, anything at all (scars, tattoos, …) that isn’t known by the public. She won’t be able to do so, because it never happened.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2022

“For the record, those wild accusations are utterly untrue,” he said.

“But I have a challenge to this liar who claims their friend saw me ‘exposed’ – describe just one thing, anything at all (scars, tattoos, …) that isn’t known by the public,” the CEO added. “She won’t be able to do so, because it never happened.”

Musk also said that he had the perfect name for the accusation: Elongate.

Finally, we get to use Elongate as scandal name. It’s kinda perfect. 🤣 https://t.co/qSNH7lsn72

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2022

Doesn’t sound like a guy who thinks that anything is going on with this accusation. He’s not only not acting guilty about it, but he’s also acting aggrieved. It’s six years old and was settled. So what’s the point in bringing it out now? Other than to attack Musk for his temerity in buying Twitter and throwing the Democrats under the bus? They are trying to pull out what they can but he’s not caving.