Elon Musk’s X Fined $350,000 for Compliance Delay in Trump Account Probe

In a recent development, Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, has incurred a fine of $350,000 due to a failure to meet a crucial compliance deadline pertaining to a confidential search warrant involving former US President Donald Trump’s account. This incident is part of a wider investigation led by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) into the activities of the former president.

The revelations emerged through an appeals court order issued on a Wednesday, shedding light on X’s non-compliance with a search warrant it had received earlier this year. The warrant was part of an ongoing investigation into potential disruptions surrounding the transition of power after the 2020 presidential election, and the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, by supporters of Donald Trump.

The DoJ’s search warrant directed X, now known as Elon Musk’s X, to provide data and records associated with Trump’s prominent Twitter account, @realdonaldtrump. Throughout his presidency, Trump extensively utilized this platform to directly communicate with his vast number of followers. However, X failed to meet the court-ordered deadline for compliance, ultimately submitting an incomplete set of records three days after the stipulated timeframe had lapsed.

The delay in compliance reportedly arose as X engaged in unsuccessful attempts to challenge a non-disclosure order. This order had effectively restricted the company from discussing the warrant publicly, leading X to claim that the order violated its First Amendment rights to free speech.

It is noteworthy that the lower court, in its initial assessment, had articulated concerns regarding the potential consequences of notifying Trump about the warrant. The court expressed fears that such notification could potentially jeopardize the ongoing investigation by providing an opportunity to tamper with evidence or manipulate behaviors. Additionally, the lower court suggested that Trump might attempt to evade prosecution. However, the DoJ subsequently acknowledged that the notion of fleeing prosecution had been included in its request in error.

In light of the fine amounting to $350,000, the lower court has granted X limited permission to inform Trump about the warrant. This decision takes into account the fact that information regarding probes targeting Trump had already become public by that point.

This recent development coincides with Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, a purchase that was finalized at a price of $44 billion in October. Under Musk’s ownership, the company has undergone significant restructuring, including substantial workforce reduction. This reduction, part of a broader cost-cutting initiative, has led to internal disruptions and concerns about staffing levels, particularly within departments responsible for compliance.

The suspension of Trump’s Twitter account followed the events of January 6, when supporters of the former president stormed the US Capitol. However, under Musk’s leadership, the account was reinstated. Despite Musk’s involvement in the social media platform, Trump has yet to resume his online presence. Instead, he is spearheading a new social media endeavor called Truth Social.

Reacting to the unsealing of the court order, Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration. In a post, he declared, “Just found out that Crooked Joe Biden’s DOJ secretly attacked my Twitter account, making it a point not to let me know about this major ‘hit’ on my civil rights. My Political Opponent is going CRAZY trying to infringe on my Campaign for President.”

As the legal proceedings surrounding Trump’s activities continue to unfold, the outcomes of these developments will likely have significant implications for his online presence and potential future ventures. Both the DoJ and X declined to provide comments on the matter, leaving room for speculation and anticipation regarding the next steps in this ongoing saga.