NEW: Hinojosa Files Lawsuit to See Abbott’s “Intimate” and “Embarrassing” Emails  Elon Musk Emails

Austin, TX – Today, Democratic nominee for Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa held a press conference announcing legal action against Greg Abbott for unlawfully withholding communications between his office and billionaire donor Elon Musk.

Hinojosa is seeking injunctive and declaratory relief to halt Abbott’s unlawful denial of her statutory right under the Texas Public Information Act to inspect documented communications between the governor and Elon Musk, which Abbott has called too “intimate and embarrassing” to be made public. The legal action comes amid the growing power of tech giants in Texas. The documented Abbott-Musk connections include direct communications, substantial political contributions, and economic development incentives benefiting Musk’s companies, raising questions about whose interests Abbott is serving.

WATCH FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE:

“People are angry. That’s what this election is about. It is one fight: Is this going to be a Texas that is by and for the people, or is it just the billionaires’ world, and we just live here? This is in-your-face corruption,” said Hinojosa. “It is a governor and a government doing the bidding of the moneyed interests, and in this case, the biggest money in the world, instead of the people of Texas, leaving the people of Texas to fend for themselves. 

“That is what this election is about. That is what this lawsuit is about. I’ve asked for release again of the emails between Greg Abbott and Elon Musk that were withheld, citing the governor’s office, that they were intimate and embarrassing. The people have a right to know, and I, as their representative, have a right to see them.”

On September 29, Hinojosa, in her official capacity as state representative, filed a public information request for inspection of all documents exchanged between Greg Abbott’s office and Elon Musk and his companies, including the emails previously provided to the Texas Newsroom. The governor’s office already assembled and reviewed records in response to the Texas Newsroom’s request, producing all 1,374 pages – and all but about 200 pages were redacted or completely blacked out. Abbott has refused to make any of the documents public. 

Abbott has given billions of dollars in grants and tax breaks to Musk’s companies in Texas, including a $1.66 billion tax break shortly after Musk donated $500,000 to Abbott’s reelection campaign this year. In July, Abbott came under fire from his own party for his relationship with Musk after calling the Texas Broadband Office to award Musk’s Starlink $110 million upfront, leading to an audit of the office.

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