Gina Hinojosa files lawsuit against Greg Abbott over Elon Musk files
State Representative Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, filed a lawsuit against Governor Greg Abbott challenging his office’s refusal to release unredacted communications between the governor and billionaire Elon Musk. Filed in Travis County’s 126th District Court, the legal action targets Abbott’s withholding of state records under the Texas Public Information Act, a move the administration defended by claiming the documents contained intimate and embarrassing details. Hinojosa filed the lawsuit against Abbott on Monday.
Public Records Request Triggers Legal Action in Travis County
The dispute centers on documents originally compiled for a Texas Newsroom public records request in 2025. While Attorney General Ken Paxton later ordered the release of partial files, the governor’s office produced 1,374 pages with all but roughly 200 pages completely blacked out or redacted. On September 29, Hinojosa submitted a formal request in her official capacity as a state representative to inspect the unredacted files, offering to sign a confidentiality agreement and setting an October 13 deadline.
On October 13, the governor’s office acknowledged locating the responsive files but refused to provide unredacted copies. On October 13, the Governor’s Office responded in writing, expressly acknowledging that it ‘has reviewed its files and located the documents responsive to your request,’ but still refused to release the unredacted versions of the redacted records,
the petition alleges. Quite simply, GovernorAbbott has failed and refused to comply with the law by allowing Representative Hinojosa access to the Abbott-Musk communications.
Hinojosa’s petition argues that state law explicitly grants legislators the right to inspect confidential information for legitimate legislative oversight. According to Hinojosa’s campaign, these communications could inform legislative scrutiny regarding state grants, tax incentives, broadband, public beach access, environmental impacts, and AI and data centers.
Campaign Flashpoints Over State Grants and Political Contributions
During a press conference in Austin, Hinojosa framed the lawsuit as a fight against government corruption and the growing influence of corporate billionaires. People are angry. That’s what this election is about. It is one fight: Is this going to be a Texas that is by and for the people, or is it just the billionaires’ world, and we just live here?
Hinojosa said. The documented connections between the administration and Musk include direct communications, political contributions, and economic development incentives, such as a $1.66 billion tax break issued shortly after Musk donated $500,000 to Abbott’s reelection campaign.
The relationship between the governor and Musk has drawn scrutiny beyond this lawsuit. In July, Abbott faced criticism from members of his own party after contacting the Texas Broadband Office to award $110 million upfront to Musk’s Starlink, a decision that triggered an audit of the agency.
Response from the Governor’s Office
The administration dismissed the litigation as politically motivated. The lawsuit is baseless and nothing more than an act of desperation. Even worse, State Representative Gina Hinojosa is abusing her official capacity as an outgoing lawmaker to generate headlines for political purposes,
Mahaleris wrote. Texans see this for what it is: a political stunt.
Abbott’s campaign did not immediately respond to subsequent requests for comment.