Judge orders Tesla CEO Elon Musk to give deposition in election fraud-related lawsuits

A federal judge ordered Tesla CEO Elon Musk to give sworn testimony in a pair of related lawsuits that accuse him of defrauding voters in swing states ahead of the 2024 general election, requiring Musk to sit for a deposition, according to a report published Thursday by The Hill.

The order was issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower in the Western District of Texas. The deposition is tied to two separate cases, which the reporting describes as alleging election-related fraud involving voter “buying” claims and Musk’s role in a political spending organization.

According to The Hill, Musk was ordered to testify in connection with litigation that includes claims that voters were targeted and that fraudulent conduct occurred before the 2024 general election. The judge’s directive requires Musk to answer questions under oath as part of discovery proceedings in the lawsuits.

The Hill’s report characterizes the litigation as involving allegations that Musk and entities associated with him used political efforts to influence voters through unlawful means in swing states. The order’s timing, arriving more than a year after the 2024 election, places additional focus on whether plaintiffs can substantiate their claims through deposition testimony.

The lawsuits also appear to involve political-spending activity that the reporting links to “America PAC,” which has been named in connection with the election-related allegations discussed in the judge’s ruling. The case posture described in the report indicates the deposition is aimed at developing evidence before the cases move further toward any merits rulings.

Under federal civil procedure, depositions are typically used to obtain sworn testimony, preserve evidence, and clarify disputed facts for later motions and trial. The judge’s order means Musk’s participation will become part of the evidentiary record in the two cases as they proceed through the court.

The next steps in the litigation will depend on how deposition testimony is used by the parties, including whether it supports or undermines the fraud-related claims at the center of the lawsuits, and whether additional discovery or motions follow after sworn testimony is completed.