AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declined to release email correspondence between his office and billionaire Elon Musk, stating that the messages are too “intimate and embarrassing” for public disclosure.
The decision came in response to a records request filed in April by The Texas Newsroom, which sought access to communications involving the governor, his staff, Musk, and Musk’s companies.
In a formal response, Abbott’s office asserted that some of the emails contain sensitive information not considered a matter of legitimate public concern.
The nature of the emails has not been disclosed, but officials cited exemptions under the Texas Public Information Act that permit withholding records containing confidential or private content.
While the Texas Public Information Act generally provides for public access to government records, it includes provisions allowing agencies to withhold documents that are deemed private or not in the public interest.
Governor Abbott’s office has not clarified the specific nature of the email content but maintained that disclosure would violate privacy protections. Elon Musk has not issued a public statement regarding the matter.
