False claims about approved payments: judge finds elon musk, kristi noem engaged in premeditated campaign to smear fema official

Ruling on claims against Comans

Judge Fitzpatrick said senior Trump administration officials had coordinated to damage Comans’ personal and professional reputation. She was a career civil servant and FEMA’s chief financial officer until she was dismissed without cause in February 2025. The judge rejected accusations that Comans engaged in criminal activity, misspent federal funds or laundered “forbidden funding.” The decision followed a name-clearing proceeding, after a federal judge ruled in July that her firing lacked due process.

Payments approved by officials

The disputed payments went to state and local governments, including two payments to New York City. Court records said senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA made the decision to continue them.

DOGE employees approved the payments, and Comans was directed to continue them. Musk oversaw the cost-cutting task force, according to the records.

Musk’s post and Noem’s role

Musk shared Comans’ photo on X and accused her of “criminal action” over alleged payments to New York City hotels. The judge said Musk knew or should have known DOGE employees had approved the payments, and described the post as intended to frighten Comans.

Fitzpatrick also said Noem and Lewandowski gave false information about Comans to Laura Loomer, expecting her to spread it to her social media followers. The judge called the officials’ decision to use federal power against Comans, who had an impeccable public-service record, unfathomable.