Jasmine Crockett Aims to Hold Elon Musk Accountable — Even If Congress Won’t
As Trump and Musk’s public feud captures headlines, the Texas congresswoman — now vying for top oversight — is signaling a potentially louder call for accountability.
In a feud that has taken center stage, President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have turned on each other after months of public alignment. Once allies in political influence and mutual praise, the two are now exchanging pointed accusations — most recently involving claims from Musk that Trump wouldn’t have won the 2024 election without his help and that his name appears in sealed documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Trump’s team quickly pushed back, with the former president calling Musk “disloyal” and alleging that the Tesla CEO was lashing out over potential federal contract losses and regulatory pressures.
While the public fixates on the highly visible clash between two of the most powerful figures in business and politics, some lawmakers are seeking to redirect the attention toward more concrete forms of oversight. Among them is Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who recently made a bid to chair the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, if Democrats regain control of the chamber.
On the same day Musk’s posts dominated headlines, Crockett blasted her Republican colleagues for blocking an effort to subpoena the billionaire.
“This morning, Democrats tried to subpoena Elon Musk so he could answer to the American people,” Crockett wrote on Twitter. “But instead of standing with us, Republicans stalled us for 30 minutes, gathered members and blocked it. Oversight? Nah. Just overlooking corruption.”
Campaigning for the Gavel
Crockett is currently campaigning for the top Democratic seat on the House Oversight Committee, a powerful post that would grant her greater authority to launch investigations into federal agencies, private entities, and public figures.
She stated that if appointed, she would prioritize accountability around corporate lobbying, civil rights enforcement, and misuse of public funds — an agenda that would likely include deeper examination of Musk’s federal relationships and, potentially, Trump’s influence networks.
“Our country is in an existential crisis driven by an out-of-control executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic,” Crockett said in a recent press release announcing her run for Ranking Member. “The administration has refused to respect congressional authority, abide by lawful judicial orders, or respond to public outrage.”
Keeping Watch Where Others Won’t
The push to subpoena Musk aligns with growing bipartisan frustration over the tech mogul’s expanding influence, including recent role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), federal contracts with SpaceX, Tesla’s labor practices, and his acquisition of the social media platform X. Crockett and other Democrats argue that Musk’s business dealings — especially those tied to public funding — warrant further scrutiny.
“Weird how Republicans say they’re worried about Big Tech and government overreach…until it’s Elon Musk,” she said during the Oversight Committee meeting. “They’re not doing oversight — they’re doing cover-ups.”
Crockett’s remarks came just days after expressing how the American people have been impacted by Elon’s DOGE cuts.
“He is gone, but the ‘musk’ is still going to linger in the air,” Crockett said of Musk’s exit on MSNBC News’s The Weekend. “We know, as you went through in your intro, that there are so many people that have been impacted by these ridiculous and not-thought-out cuts. And it’s not just the federal workers, it’s those constituents of ours. Our citizens that are being impacted the hardest by these cuts.”
While her efforts to issue a subpoena failed in the Republican-controlled committee, observers say this may have laid the groundwork for a future investigation if the political balance shifts.
“I think that unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait until the Democrats are in the majority — which will hopefully be in the midterms — and then we can absolutely bring Elon Musk in,” she said.
What Comes Next?
So far, Musk has not publicly addressed the subpoena attempt, and no formal investigation has been opened into his claims. However, if credible evidence surfaces, Musk could be called to testify under oath by a future Congressional Committee or in a federal inquiry.
Meanwhile, Crockett’s call for action reminds us that Congress — particularly the Oversight Committee — has an obligation to investigate potential abuses of power — regardless of political affiliation or wealth. And that’s what the American people, who have been impacted the most by it, deserve.
“The magnitude of these unprecedented times warrants a resistance and tactics never before seen,” Crockett said. “We must pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0 and translate our findings to the American people in a way they can digest.”
13 & South is a new publication covering news, investigative stories, and insights on social justice, policy, and systemic inequities impacting Southern Black communities. I value your insights and feedback, and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please email me at editor@13thandsouth.com. Also, feel free to connect with me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.
Social security is everything to the elderly 🤬 … Crack his spine for the MEEK. Baptize the snitch.