Anti-Elon Musk Rep. Andre Carson drives around in taxpayer-funded Tesla

A “shameless” Indiana Democrat is so anti-Elon Musk he’s pushing legislation to rein in the billionaire’s power, yet drives around in a Tesla leased with taxpayer dough, records show.

Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind) has denounced the Tesla founder as untrustworthy and last month introduced a bill in direct response to Musk and the “shameful invasion of Americans’ privacy.”

But Carson, 50, apparently has no qualms — at least until The Post inquired — about cruising around in one of Musk’s Teslas.

The latest House disbursement records show Carson claimed almost $11,000 of public money last year to pay Tesla Finance LLC for the lease of one of its cars.

Carson was one of more than 40 lawmakers last year who made use of a green scheme that allows them to access public money to lease a vehicle for use in their constituency so long as it is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a “low greenhouse gas emitting vehicle,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.

The progressive lawmaker has been one of Musk’s major critics this year.

In statements attacking spending cuts, he warned federal workers against taking buyouts pushed by the richest man in the world.

“President Trump and Musk have no legal authority to make these offers, and you will likely be ripped off in the process,” he said last month.

And he added that their efforts to slash the federal workforce represented “dictatorship not efficiency.”

Last month, Carson, who has represented his district since 2008, signed on to legislation designed to stop people with conflicts of interest or without a security clearance from accessing the highly sensitive Treasury Department payment system, which includes Social Security and Medicare payments.

“Our Taxpayer Data Protection Act will hold the Trump Administration accountable and prevent Musk and his minions from rifling through the private data of everyday Americans,” he said at the time.

Carson spokeswoman Caroline Ellert told The Post this week her boss won’t be renewing his Tesla lease inked in 2023 when it ends in October next year.

Ellert said the lease was made in accordance with House rules and finalized before Musk endorsed President Trump in July last year.

“It reflects the congressman’s commitment to clean energy, American vehicles, and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels – it’s not a political endorsement of Mr. Musk,” she insisted.

“Congressman Carson has philosophical differences with Mr. Musk, particularly DOGE’s negative impact on Indianapolis facilities and the federal workforce. He will not be renewing his lease.”

Democrats and woke celebrities have been turning their backs on Tesla, once the darling of the environmentally conscious crowd.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly announced earlier this month he was selling his Tesla Model S, joining the likes of singer Sheryl Crow, who ditched her Cybertruck.

Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was once among the most high profile Tesla drivers. But her office did not respond to questions about whether she made good on a 2023 promise to trade hers in for a union-built car.

“It’s very superficial and very transparent what they’re doing,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Ten). “They thought Musk  was their ideal billionaire — all wealthy and woke.

“They made these assumptions and now they look stupid and shameless,” he added.