Elon Musk Announces His Move After Former Dem. Rep. Goes Too Far with Unhinged Rant on Live TV
Elon Musk has announced plans to sue former Democratic Congressman Jamaal Bowman after the ex-lawmaker launched a scathing attack against the tech billionaire during a CNN appearance. Bowman, who recently lost his New York congressional seat in a primary upset, called Musk “incompetent,” a “thief,” and a “Nazi” while criticizing his leadership as Department of Government Efficiency chief.
The explosive comments came during a discussion about Musk’s controversial workforce reductions across his companies. “He’s fired tens of thousands of people, was challenged in court. The court said the people have to go back, and now the people are coming back,” Bowman claimed during the segment. His inflammatory remarks quickly drew Musk’s ire, with the billionaire responding on X: “I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.”
Legal experts note that while political speech enjoys broad protections, Bowman’s specific accusations – particularly the “thief” and “Nazi” labels – could potentially cross into defamation territory. Conservative commentator Andy Ngo pointed out that “accusing people of crimes is not protected opinion,” while Senator Mike Lee urged Musk to pursue legal action, arguing that “defamation against conservatives can’t go unaddressed.”
This isn’t the first controversy for Bowman, who was censured by the House last year for pulling a fire alarm in the Capitol during government funding debates. His recent primary loss to moderate Democrat George Latimer was seen as a rejection of progressive politics in his district. New York Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs characterized the defeat as voters favoring “common sense solutions” over extremism.
The impending lawsuit adds to Musk’s history of legal battles with critics, though legal analysts debate whether a public figure like Musk can successfully prove actual malice – the high standard required for defamation cases involving prominent individuals. CNN may also face scrutiny for airing Bowman’s unsubstantiated claims without challenge during the segment.
