Judge rules Elon Musk can't avoid deposition in DOGE case

Federal Judge Deals Elon Musk a Blow: He Must Testify in DOGE Case

A Maryland federal judge has ruled that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk cannot avoid testifying in a lawsuit challenging the shutdown of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which was allegedly orchestrated by Musk and his former colleagues.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Judge Theodore D. Chuang denied a motion for a protective order filed by Musk, former USAID deputy administrator Peter Marocco, and former DOGE team lead Jeremy Lewin. The judge found that the proposed testimony is justified and not barred by protections for high-ranking officials.

The lawsuit, which alleges Appointments Clause and separation-of-powers violations, stems from decisions made by Musk and others to dismantle USAID without lawful authority. The plaintiffs claim that this was an overreach of power and a threat to the separation of powers in the US government.

In rejecting the motion, Judge Chuang noted that the Fourth Circuit has not formally adopted an apex doctrine that would limit depositions of high-ranking officials. However, he emphasized that it was "at best unclear" whether Musk, Marocco, and Lewin qualify as high-ranking officials under this doctrine.

The court found that the plaintiffs have shown a specific need for testimony on Musk's role in DOGE and USAID, including the timing of appointments and the identity of decision-makers. The judge concluded that the information sought is not obtainable from other sources, requiring Musk and others to provide it.

This ruling advances discovery in the case, which will focus on the identity and authority of decision-makers and the timing of key actions tied to USAID's dismantling. A date for depositions has not been set, and it remains unclear whether Musk, Marocco, and Lewin will file further motions in the case.

The case is a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Musk's role in the shutdown of USAID, which was allegedly orchestrated by him and his allies without proper authority. The ruling is likely to be closely watched by advocates for government transparency and accountability.

This is getting juicy! Like in that movie "The Social Network" when Mark Zuckerberg got called out for allegedly orchestrating the Facebook fiasco, Musk's involvement in the USAID shutdown is starting to get some serious heat . It'll be interesting to see how this case unfolds and if Musk finally has to spill the beans about his alleged role in dismantling USAID . Maybe he'll even channel his inner "Bill Clinton" from "The Last King of Scotland" and try to weave a web of excuses . Whatever happens, it's clear that transparency and accountability are on trial here .

[Image of Elon Musk with a thought bubble saying "Oh no, I have to testify!"]

Musk's shutdown of USAID was a big deal, but did he really think he could get away with it? [GIF of a person trying to hide behind a curtain, but the curtain keeps falling down]

Guess that's what happens when you try to wield power without playing by the rules . Time for Elon to spill the beans! [Image of a tea kettle whistling, with steam coming out saying "Musk's secrets are brewing!"] ️

OMG yaaas this ruling is HUGE!!! Elon Musk can't escape testifying in court about the whole USAID debacle I mean, what's he hiding? Did he really think he could just swoop in, shut down an entire agency, and get away with it? Not on my watch! The fact that the judge is making him testify on his role in DOGE is like, total justice . It's about time someone held him accountable for this overreach of power . Can't wait to see what other dirt comes out during depositions

idk why elon's team thought they could avoid this lol he's gotta spill the beans now about what really went down with usaid it's like, we all know musk's been up to some shady stuff lately, so let him just fess up already

OMG , this is crazy! like elon musk thinks he can just avoid testifyin' in a court case? what's next, he's gonna claim he was abducted by aliens or somethin'? seriously tho, dude made some pretty shady moves with USAID and now he gotta face the music. I got no problem with him gettin' called to testify tho, it's about time someone held him accountable for his actions . The fact that he and his crew are tryin' to avoid answerin' questions is just laughable, like they think they're above the law or somethin'? Newsflash, Elon: you ain't above nobody!

omg just saw that Elon Musk has to testify in this lawsuit about USAID - I mean, I get it, he can't just avoid testifying like that's gonna make the whole thing go away... but seriously, how did it even come to this? like, didn't they think his social media followers would, you know, vouch for him or something? anyway, glad we're getting some clarity on this - I mean, who doesn't want to see what really went down behind the scenes at USAID?

Ugh, can you believe this? Elon Musk has to take a stand in court now... It's like, hello, billionaire, just 'cause you're influential doesn't mean you get a free pass from sharing what went down with USAID . I'm not saying he should spill all the tea or anything, but come on, this is some serious allegations we're talking about . The fact that he and his former colleagues think they can just shut down an entire agency without anyone noticing is pretty laughable . Guess you could say this court case is a bit of a wake-up call for him . Anyway, I'm all for transparency in government, so I guess it's about time someone held Musk accountable .

This ruling is a major blow to Elon Musk's efforts to shield himself from scrutiny over the alleged shutdown of US Agency for International Development (USAID). It's clear that Judge Chuang has rejected Musk's attempts to avoid testifying in this case, which deals with serious allegations of power overreach and separation-of-powers violations. The plaintiffs have made a compelling case for why Musk's testimony is necessary, particularly regarding the timing of appointments and decision-makers' identities.

While it's interesting to note that the Fourth Circuit hasn't formally adopted an apex doctrine limiting depositions of high-ranking officials, Judge Chuang has effectively sidestepped this issue by emphasizing the need for Musk's direct involvement in the case. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out in terms of discovery and potentially even trial.

Overall, this ruling sends a strong signal that accountability matters, especially when it comes to actions taken by high-profile figures like Elon Musk. Transparency and government oversight are crucial components of a healthy democracy – we can't have influential individuals operating above the law without consequences.

Ugh, this just gets crazy ! So now Elon has to come clean about what really went down with USAID? I'm both impressed and terrified at the same time . On one hand, it's about time someone held him accountable for his actions. But on the other hand, think about all the dirt that could come out of this testimony...

I mean, we already know he's a bit of a wild card , but this is just getting out of control . A former DOGE team lead and a USAID deputy administrator are coming for him? This is like something out of a movie .

But seriously, the fact that the judge ruled in favor of Musk having to testify says a lot about how transparent he wants to be about his actions . I guess we'll just have to wait and see what comes of this deposition . Either way, I'm keeping an eye on this one .