New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, made headlines on February 14 when they announced a groundbreaking lawsuit against tech mogul Elon Musk and the Trump administration. The lawsuit, aimed at protecting Americans’ private information, was a bold move that garnered attention nationwide.
The legal battle began on February 7, when Attorney General James led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit alleged that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had illegally accessed Americans’ private information through the Treasury Department’s central payment system. This unauthorized access raised serious concerns about the security and privacy of Americans’ most sensitive personal data.
In a significant development, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York granted Attorney General James’ motion for a temporary restraining order on February 8. This order effectively blocked Elon Musk and his DOGE employees from accessing Americans’ personal information and mandated the immediate destruction of any records they had already obtained. The swift action taken by the court underscored the gravity of the situation and the need to protect individuals’ privacy rights.
On February 14, Attorney General James, joined by a coalition of 11 other attorneys general, released a statement ahead of a pivotal court hearing in their case against the Trump administration. The attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon stood united in their mission to safeguard Americans’ private information from unauthorized access.
“Elon Musk and his team breached our nation’s central payment system in the Treasury Department, gaining unauthorized access to the personal data of tens of millions of Americans,” the coalition’s statement declared. “To protect our states’ residents, we took legal action to put an end to this violation. Within hours, a court order was secured to prevent Musk and DOGE from further accessing Americans’ private information and to ensure the destruction of any records they had obtained.”
Despite his status as the world’s richest man, Elon Musk found himself embroiled in a legal battle that underscored the importance of upholding privacy laws and respecting individuals’ personal information. The coalition of attorneys general made it clear that the law was on the side of the American people, emphasizing that Congress, not the President, held primary control over federal spending.
In a show of solidarity and determination, Attorney General Tong expressed his commitment to standing up for those who could not defend themselves. The coalition sought a preliminary injunction to reinforce the ban on unauthorized access to Americans’ personal data through the Treasury’s payment system, highlighting their unwavering dedication to protecting individuals’ privacy rights.
As Attorney General James reiterated, Elon Musk had not been elected by the people, and the American public deserved better. The legal battle against unauthorized access to personal information was a testament to the coalition’s resolve to hold those in power accountable and safeguard individuals’ privacy rights. The fight for privacy and data protection continued, with the coalition vowing to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for the American people.
In a stirring display of unity and resolve, Attorneys General Letitia James and William Tong stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to take on the challenges posed by the Trump administration and Elon Musk. Their commitment to defending individuals’ privacy rights and upholding the rule of law shone through, serving as a beacon of hope for all those who valued the protection of personal information.
