Judge: Musk's post on DHS official was 'state sanctioned intimidation'

The judge noted that federal officials were aware at the time that it was untrue to accuse Comans of attempting to circumvent President Donald Trump's executive order pausing federal funding to non-governmental organizations assisting migrants. Despite this knowledge, Musk and then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem made statements that Fitzpatrick found impugned Comans' integrity.

Fitzpatrick expressed bewilderment at the government's actions, stating, 'For reasons unfathomable to this Court, officials chose to turn the power of the federal government against a singular employee with an impeccable record of public service.' He concluded that Comans was 'professionally targeted and personally attacked by government officials for no legitimate reason.'

Musk's post was one of seven statements Fitzpatrick examined in his ruling. The judge indicated that it was evident to other federal officials that Comans lacked the authority to halt specific grants and that decisions to continue funding certain programs had already been made by others.

Both Musk and Noem have since departed the Trump administration. This ruling is part of a larger legal battle concerning Comans' firing; in July, US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff determined that Comans had been unlawfully terminated, a decision currently under appeal by the Trump administration.