The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that the company threatened to stop doing business with a law firm if it didn't fire the attorney involved in the SEC probe.
According to the Journal, a lawyer for the company told the law firm that the attorney had been brought onboard for their experience with securities litigation and enforcement. The attorney had interviewed Musk during the SEC's investigation into his claim that he had secured funding to take the company private.
The agency required Musk and his company to pay a $20 million fine. Musk was required to step down as chairman of the board for three years.
According to the Journal, the attorney is still an associate at the firm.
According to legal documents cited by the Journal, in several cases since December,Tesla has replaced Cooley as counsel or hired additional counsel.
People familiar with the matter told the Journal that Musk's company stopped working with Cooley for regulatory work.
Requests for comment were not immediately responded to by the companies.
The full Wall Street Journal article can be found here.
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