Sat, Oct 19, 2024
SpaceX Founder Cites First Amendment Violation For Action
Elon Musk is suing the California Coastal Commission for violating his First Amendment right of free speech when one of its members cited Musk’s posts on X as one reason for voting against increasing Starlink launches from 36 to 50 this year.
Musk has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump’s candidacy for president and has also criticized the FAA, FCC, and FEMA, for other reasons, in recent months. Musk has said, and several media outlets have also noted, that his political outspokenness is becoming a factor in how California regulators are making decisions regarding SpaceX.
California Coastal Commission Chair Caryl Hart reportedly said during a recent meeting, “We’re dealing with a company, the head of which has aggressively injected himself into the presidential race.”
In response, Musk posted on X, “Incredibly inappropriate. What I post on this platform has nothing to do with a 'coastal commission' in California! Filing suit against them on Monday for violating the First Amendment.”
In response to the Coastal Commission’s decision to disapprove increasing launches, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA-3), posted a letter that a group of Congress members sent to the Commission supporting increasing the number of launches. They cited specifically how Starlink is aiding national security, the U.S. Department of Defense, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for wildfire and disaster response as well as other first responders.
Kiley noted in posting the Congressional letter on X, “In August we wrote a bipartisan letter supporting more @SpaceX launches at Vandenberg, citing benefits to national security, broadband connectivity, and wildfire response. Yet the Coastal Commission just rejected the plan, citing unrelated political posts by Elon Musk. This illegal action needs to be reversed immediately.”
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