AUSTIN, Texas — A Travis County judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday requiring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to allow his Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, to inspect unredacted communications between the governor’s office and billionaire Elon Musk and his companies.
The order requires Abbott’s office to provide Hinojosa access to previously collected records by 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, including documents that were redacted or withheld from public disclosure.
Hinojosa, who is challenging Abbott in the November gubernatorial election, argues she is entitled to review the communications in her capacity as a state legislator.
She has emphasized that she is not seeking to make the records public.
Under the temporary restraining order, Abbott’s office may require Hinojosa to sign a lawful confidentiality agreement but cannot use that requirement to delay or prevent her access to the documents.
Hinojosa is prohibited from publicly disclosing confidential information obtained through the review.
The order does not require the governor’s office to conduct a new records search or create additional documents.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 19, alleges Abbott’s office improperly withheld access to communications involving Musk and his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.
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According to previous reporting, the records were initially requested by The Texas Newsroom, which received approximately 1,374 pages, many of them heavily redacted or completely blacked out.
Abbott’s office previously argued that some of the withheld information was “intimate and embarrassing” and not of legitimate public concern.
Hinojosa’s lawsuit points to connections between Abbott and Musk, including personal interactions, public appearances, state incentives, and political contributions.
Abbott’s spokesperson has called the lawsuit “baseless” and “an act of desperation.”
According to Bloomberg Law, Abbott is expected to appeal the order before allowing Hinojosa to inspect the records.
What happens next?
A hearing is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, at 9 a.m., when the court will consider whether to issue a longer-lasting temporary injunction and address Abbott’s challenge to the court’s authority.
Hinojosa must also post a $1,000 bond under the order.
The temporary restraining order is set to expire Nov. 9 unless extended by the court.
The judge’s findings are preliminary and indicate that Hinojosa has demonstrated a probable right to inspect the records for legislative purposes and that delaying access could interfere with her duties as a lawmaker.
The ruling does not resolve the lawsuit or require the communications to be released publicly.