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Denies the allegations: Tesla boss Elon Musk
Photo: Patrick Fallon / REUTERS
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has firmly denied harassment allegations made in 2016.
"These wild allegations are absolutely untrue," Musk wrote on Twitter.
The US news portal "Insider" had previously reported that four years ago, Musk's space company SpaceX paid $ 250,000 in a non-disclosure agreement to a flight attendant who had accused him of sexual harassment.
The online magazine relied on statements from a woman who said she was a friend of the flight attendant.
On Wall Street, however, the allegations triggered nervousness among Tesla investors.
The shares of the electric car manufacturer fell by eight percent.
Musk sees political motive
According to Insider's report, Musk exposed himself during a massage on a flight to London in 2016, touched the flight attendant and offered to buy her a horse if she "would do more," the report said to a statement from the girlfriend of the alleged molestation victim.
Musk wrote on Twitter that he challenges the "liar" to describe even one detail, such as scars or tattoos, that is not known to the public.
"She won't be able to because that never happened."
Musk also claimed the girlfriend was a "far left activist/actress in Los Angeles."
Musk described the allegations as politically motivated.
"The attacks against me should be viewed through a political lens - this is their default (despicable) strategy," Musk tweeted.
He did not specify who he was referring to.
tfb/dpa/Reuters/AFP
