In a decisive legal win for Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay on Tuesday that prevents Democratic challenger State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D‑Austin) from inspecting unredacted communications between the governor’s office and companies linked to Elon Musk. The stay pauses a lower‑court order that had set a 10 a.m. deadline for the release of the records on Thursday.
Appeal court action
The appellate court’s order gives Hinojosa 14 days to respond to Abbott’s petition challenging the lawsuit. It does not resolve whether the legislator ultimately has a right to view the documents; it merely freezes the disclosure while the dispute proceeds.
Background of the lawsuit
Hinojosa filed suit on Oct. 19, asserting that her role as a state legislator grants her statutory authority to inspect the communications. Travis County District Judge Catherine Mauzy had earlier ordered the governor’s office to permit inspection by Oct. 29, citing the Texas Public Information Act. Abbott’s legal team appealed that order, arguing that the request was a partisan fishing expedition.
The underlying records total 1,374 pages of emails and other communications. The Texas Newsroom obtained the files after a public‑information request, but all but roughly 200 pages were heavily redacted. The content of the redacted portions remains unknown.
Administration’s response
Governor Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, called the lawsuit “a sham” and condemned the district court’s decision as an “illegal fishing expedition” into the governor’s office. He praised the appellate court for “rightly freezing this abuse of process.”
Abbott’s general counsel, Trevor Ezell, also raised concerns about Judge Mauzy’s impartiality after reports surfaced that she donated $500 to Hinojosa’s campaign in June. Ezell filed a motion seeking the judge’s removal, though the appeals court has not ruled on that request.
Political context
The dispute comes amid a heated gubernatorial race that has already featured sharp disagreements over education policy. At a Moms for Liberty event in Dallas on Oct. 9, Abbott criticized Hinojosa’s votes on school athletics and parental‑authority measures. House journals show Hinojosa voted against House Bill 25 in 2021, which requires public‑school athletic teams to be designated by sex, and opposed Senate Bill 12 and House Bill 1106 in 2025, both addressing student social transitions and parental decision‑making. She has also opposed Abbott’s school‑choice initiative.
While those policy battles are separate from the current legal fight, they underscore the broader ideological divide shaping the campaign.
What’s next?
The appellate stay removes the immediate Oct. 29 deadline for disclosure. Hinojosa must file a response within the 14‑day window set by the appeals court. The underlying question of whether the governor’s office must release the unredacted communications remains unresolved, as does the motion to disqualify Judge Mauzy.
Early voting in the gubernatorial election ends Friday, Oct. 30, with the general election slated for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.
