Judge Rules Elon Musk Intimidated Former FEMA Official
Federal Judge William Fitzpatrick ruled that Elon Musk engaged in state sanctioned intimidation by falsely accusing former FEMA CFO Mary Comans of criminal conduct.
Federal Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick ruled Tuesday that Elon Musk engaged in state sanctioned intimidation when he accused former Federal Emergency Management Agency Chief Financial Officer Mary Comans of criminal conduct. The ruling centers on a February 2025 post by Musk claiming Comans funneled $58 million to migrant hotels, an accusation Fitzpatrick stated was intended to make Comans afraid and served no legitimate governmental interest.
Fitzpatrick found that federal officials, including Musk and then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, impugned Comans' integrity despite knowing the accusations were false. The judge characterized the targeting of Comans as an abuse of federal power against an employee with an impeccable record of public service.
Comans was fired in February 2025. In July, US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff ruled that her termination was unlawful. The Trump administration is currently appealing that decision.
