By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Elon Musk’s attempt to move an SEC lawsuit regarding his late disclosure of a Twitter stake from Washington, D.C., to Texas was denied by a federal judge. Despite claiming an “incredibly busy” schedule and arguing the D.C. location was burdensome, the judge cited his considerable resources and time spent outside of Texas as reasons to deny the move. The SEC sued Musk in January for allegedly allowing him to buy shares at artificially low prices. Musk is seeking to dismiss the case, while the SEC wants a civil fine and the disgorgement of $150 million.
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Judge denies Elon Musk’s bid to move Twitter case from Washington to Texas, a decision that, honestly, feels like a sigh of relief for anyone who’s been following this saga. The whole request from Musk, you see, was based on the claim that he’s an “incredibly busy individual” working grueling, 80-plus-hour weeks. He even apparently sleeps in his office or factory, supposedly making a trip to Washington D.C. a massive logistical burden.
However, the details paint a different picture. It’s easy to find anecdotes about Musk, despite his supposed workload, being deeply involved in online gaming, including titles like Diablo 4, Path of Exile 2, and Quake. Some even speculate about him being a top player, which raises a fundamental question: how can someone possibly dedicate that much time to online gaming while simultaneously running multiple companies and working those legendary hours? The contrast is pretty stark, and it’s hard to reconcile the image of a hyper-focused workaholic with the dedicated gamer.
The judge, in her wisdom, pointed out that she could handle the case “with reasonable alacrity,” meaning she wasn’t going to drag things out unnecessarily. This is key because it’s pretty clear that Musk was pushing for the move for reasons that had more to do with perceived advantage, and less with practical necessity. The underlying suspicion is that he wanted to be in Texas, where he might find a more favorable environment, perhaps a friendlier judge, or a jury perceived to be more inclined to his point of view.
It’s hard to ignore the widespread skepticism surrounding the 80-hour workweek claim. It’s even harder to believe when you consider the constant stream of tweets, around a hundred a day by some accounts. That kind of volume requires some serious time commitment, and as we all know, Twitter, now under Musk’s ownership, has become a platform for him to air his opinions and participate in online culture wars. Is that all “work?” That’s highly debatable.
There’s also been significant commentary regarding Musk’s other activities. Claims of his time being occupied with a wide range of other actions, including those that are potentially detrimental to others. The focus has also turned to his activities around the world. All these details only serve to undermine the core argument that a trip to Washington would be an insurmountable burden.
The accusations and personal attacks are something to behold, but it’s hard to dismiss that. It does seem that he is making time for things that don’t seem to be aligned with the image of a workaholic. Then there are the allegations of ignoring family and other controversial activities, again, hardly the actions of someone who’s completely consumed by work and doesn’t have the time to travel. It’s also pointed out that he made time to be in D.C. earlier in the year, further weakening his claim that it’s just too burdensome.
The fact is that there’s a huge disparity in claims about Musk’s actions and how he spends his time. There is much discussion about what the man does or does not do with his time. The idea that someone this involved in so many aspects of life is somehow unable to make a single trip across the country to deal with a legal matter is a pretty tough sell. The judge, of course, saw right through it.
And let’s not forget the implications of the potential move to Texas. The suspicion is that this wasn’t simply about convenience; it was about potentially influencing the outcome of the case. The argument is that the legal landscape might be more favorable in Texas. This raises questions about the pursuit of justice. Are you looking for a legal win, or are you looking for the outcome that best suits your needs?
In the end, the judge’s decision to deny the motion to move the case serves as a reminder that the legal system is based on truth, fact, and a consistent application of the law, and that one’s claims need to align with what they actually do. It’s a good thing for the process of the law.