Elon Musk is resisting actions by a Brazilian judge who initiated an inquiry into the tech mogul and owner of the X social media platform.
Musk has escalated the conflict with Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, threatening to release a comprehensive data set alleging that de Moraes influenced the election of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) in 2022.
Musk stated he would proceed with the disclosure once it’s safe for X employees, claiming they face arrest threats in Brazil.
Previously, Musk labelled de Moraes as Brazil’s “dictator” and accused him of controlling Lula, which led to further scrutiny from Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.
Over a recent weekend, Musk found himself under two investigations by de Moraes.
One is part of a broader inquiry into the dissemination of misinformation and threats directed at Supreme Court justices, while the other examines Musk’s potential involvement in obstruction, participation in criminal activities, and provocation following his declaration to ignore court mandates to suspend certain accounts.
Musk criticized de Moraes’ demands as exceedingly harsh, comparing them unfavorably to those from any other nation.
De Moraes, in a decision issued on Sunday, highlighted Musk’s defiance against Brazilian legal orders and his encouragement of non-compliance as disrespecting Brazil’s sovereignty, framing it as a clear obstruction to justice, incitement of criminal behavior, and a direct threat to disobey court orders.