Republicans shut down a move to subpoena Elon Musk to question his wide-ranging efforts to abolish federal agencies and buy out government workers.
Ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-VA) had asked committee chair James Comer (R-KY) to invite President Donald Trump's billionaire benefactor to testify during Wednesday's hearing on "Rightsizing Government," which the GOP lawmaker rejected, so the Democrat moved to subpoena the tech mogul.
“Who is this unelected billionaire that he can attempt to dismantle federal agencies, fire people, transfer them, offer them early retirement and have sweeping changes to agencies without any congressional review, oversight or concurrence?" Connolly said, clearly catching Republicans off guard. "Therefore, Mr. Chairman, given his prominence and his importance, I move that the committee subpoena Elon Musk to come report as a witness at the earliest possible moment."
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Comer refused to debate the motion, and he quickly recognized Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who moved to table that motion, and that motion was then seconded by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) – sparking an outcry from Democrats.
"Mr. Chairman, I think it's outrageous that this committee will not even entertain a motion," said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), as Comer spoke over her. "Somebody that's breaking the law and dismantling our federal agencies and firing federal employees and [accessing] federal data. You will not even entertain a motion to bring him in front of the Oversight Committee? Yes, let's have order in this country."
The motion to subpoena Musk eventually failed 19-20, with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) notably abstaining.
"Hey @RoKhanna, we know you rep Silicon Valley — but care to explain?" said the X account Tennessee Holler.
The California Democrat offered an excuse for his abstention, saying he would have favored compelling Musk to testify if he had been present.
"I would have voted yes," Khanna said. "They called a procedural vote without notice & I like 8 others didn’t make it there on time. Musk’s attacks on our institutions are unconstitutional. He should be subpoenaed & answer to our committee. They should call the vote again with notice."
"I was in a meeting with the Ambassador to Mexico discussing the terrible tariffs when they called the vote with no notice and then didn't make it on time," the lawmaker added. "They should properly notice and call the vote again."