Judge Clears Mary Comans, Says Musk Used False $58 Million Claim to Intimidate
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Oct 13
Judge Clears Mary Comans, Says Musk Used False $58 Million Claim to Intimidate
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Oct 13
Summary
A federal magistrate in Virginia ruled that Elon Musk engaged in “state sanctioned intimidation” of former FEMA CFO Mary Comans and formally cleared her name.
Feb. 11, 2025 X posts by Musk accused Comans of “criminal action” and of funneling $58 million to migrant hotels in Manhattan, claims the judge said were false.
Judge William Fitzpatrick wrote that Musk and other senior officials ran a coordinated campaign to damage Comans’ integrity, even though DOGE subordinates had approved the FEMA grant payments at issue.
The ruling ties those posts to Comans’ ouster: DHS fired her and three colleagues the next day, branding them “deep state activists.”
Mary Comans served 21 years in government, including as FEMA CFO from 2018 to February 2025; Democracy Defenders Fund said the decision vindicates career civil servants targeted for political gain.