Judge rules Musk's posts about ex-FEMA CFO Mary Comans were state-sanctioned intimidation

A federal magistrate judge in Virginia ruled that Elon Musk engaged in "state sanctioned intimidation" of former FEMA CFO Mary Comans by posting false claims on X in February 2025 that she committed "criminal action." Judge William Fitzpatrick cleared Comans' name in an order issued Tuesday, finding that Musk, then head of DOGE, knew or should have known that the payments he criticized were approved by his subordinates.

CNBC has reached out to Musk and White House attorneys for comment.