Well he settled Securities Fraud charges, so it stands to reason there was likely securities fraud. He also had to step down as chairman, appoint 2 new independent directors, and appoint an independent board to oversee his public communications.

If you paid a drug smuggling fine and as part of the process admitted to smuggling drugs, I might be inclined to label you a drug smuggler as well.

Why didn’t the SEC negotiate guilt then? After all, they tend to do that.

I wouldn't say he settle what I consider "securities fraud" even if that's the technical label, just like I wouldn't say someone that got a speeding ticket violated "federal interstate travel statues" by speeding on I5.

But that’s just what securities fraud is though, it’s a very technical violation.

The didn’t violate federal interstate travel statutes because a speeding ticket is a local violation.

If you said someone who got a speeding ticket violated interstate travel statutes, then sure that fits exactly what they did.

It is often cheaper to pay the fine than to fight it. A settlement is positively not an indicator of guilt.

In the US, over 90% of cases settle. Do you really think that they are all guilty, or maybe some of them are railroaded by the system and coerced to plea?

Let me answer that for you. Lots of innocent people plead to charges that they probably could beat, but the system has been corrupted beyond any reasonable hope of a fair trial.

Are you really suggesting the world's richest man was railroaded over a minor securities fraud charge?

If so, I've got a full self driving CyberTruck I'd like to sell you for $35k.

Sure he might be innocent, but it’s not likely. You really think the world’s richest man has no reasonable hope of a fair trial.

Most people plead because they are either guilty or because they can’t afford to compete with the resources of the prosecution. That’s not the case for Elon.

I am saying that no one has a decent chance of a fair trial.

People plead guilty all the time when they are innocent and can fight. They see that the system is rigged and bow out to limit its damage to their lives.

You think a man with unlimited resources can’t get a fair trial? There are serious structural problems with our legal system, but almost none of them apply to billionaires.

Elon can afford the best lawyers in the world, and unlimited expert witnesses to tell his side of the story. The prosecution has almost none of their usual advantages against a billionaire.