State officials from California were caught publicly disparaging and criticizing Elon Musk’s political persuasion while they were making decisions on his SpaceX business, and they now have apologized as part of a legal settlement.
It was members of the California Coastal Commission who attacked Musk and his politics during a 2024 meeting regarding SpaceX.
Based on their political beliefs, they voted against SpaceX plans to boost the number of Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, after claiming the launches were commercial activity subject to state coastal rules.
The decision was ineffectual, as the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, which had contracted for the various launches, disregarded the decision and proceeded with their own launch schedule.
But the comments soon were subject of a legal action from SpaceX, which charged the commission’s opposition “was rooted in animosity toward SpaceX and the political beliefs of its owner Elon Musk.”
The subject comments included one from Caryl Hart, the chairwoman of the state program, who claimed Musk “aggressively injected himself into the president race and made it clear what his point of view is.”
Further, according to a report in the Washington Examiner, Gretchen Newsom, not related to the Democrat governor, claimed Musk was “hopping around the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods, and attacking FEMA.”
She apparently was triggered by the fact EMA was dealing with hurricanes Helene and Milton during that time frame, while people in those affected areas were being helped by Musk, who granted free access to the internet through Starlink, a division of SpaceX.
The legal action has produced an apology from the state.
“The Commission agrees that it may not consider irrelevant factors in performing its function and specifically agrees that it will not take into account the perceived political beliefs, political speech, or labor practices of SpaceX or its officers in considering any regulatory action concerning SpaceX,” the state agency said in court.
“The Commission acknowledges that Commissioners made statements, including during their October 10, 2024, hearing on the Base’s Falcon 9 launch program, that showed political bias against SpaceX and its Chief Executive Officer and were improper. The Commission apologizes for those statements.”
The commission also has agreed that it will not require coastal permits for most launches from the Space Force operations.
The settlement became available just days ago.
