SpaceX president refused to discuss Elon Musk's sexual misconduct settlement in...

• SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell defended Elon Musk following sexual misconduct claims.

• The top female executive said she didn't believe the allegations against Musk, which Insider first reported.

• In a companywide email obtained by CNBC, Shotwell said she would "never" comment on legal matters.

SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell defended founder Elon Musk in an employee email last week following Insider's report that the company paid a SpaceX flight attendant $250,000 in 2018 after she alleged Musk exposed himself and propositioned her for sex.

"Let me be clear SpaceX does not tolerate harassment of any kind. I am saying ZERO tolerance. We firmly believe everyone at SpaceX deserves to be treated with respect. And every accusation of harassment is taken very seriously, regardless of who is involved. HR thoroughly investigates all claims that are brought to their attention and takes appropriate disciplinary action," Shotwell wrote in a Friday email to employees obtained by Insider.

"Personally, I believe the allegations to be false; not because I work for Elon, but because I have worked closely with him for 20 years and never seen nor heard anything resembling these allegations," she continued. "Anyone who knows Elon like I do, knows he would never conduct or condone this alleged inappropriate behavior."

Musk denied the sexual misconduct allegations to Insider last week, saying there is "a lot more to this story," which he called a "politically motivated hit piece."

"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.

Neither Musk nor SpaceX's legal department denied that the company gave the flight attendant a $250,000 severance payment.

In Shotwell's email to employees, she also said that she would "never comment on any legal matters involving employment issues."

SpaceX did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment regarding Shotwell's email.