Elon Musk quoted Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey, who initially praised the $44 billion ($63.7 billion Australian dollar) takeover deal from Tesla’s chief executive as part of a “mission to extend the light of consciousness.
The subpoena, which was revealed in a Delaware Chancery Court filing on Monday, focuses on Twitter’s alleged problem with spam bots and marks an escalation in Musk’s legal battle. The trial is scheduled to begin in October, the New York Postreports.
The subpoena states that Dorsey will be asked for information about “the impact or effect of fake or spam accounts on Twitter’s business and operations,” as well as the metrics the company uses to measure spam bots.
Musk also wants “documents and communications” related to how calculations from the Twitter spam bot may have figured into executive or board member compensation, according to the subpoena.
Dorsey’s attorney accepted service of the subpoena on Friday and agreed to respond within 14 days, according to emails included in court documents.
Musk has repeatedly accused Twitter of misrepresenting the number of spam accounts on its site and argued that he should be allowed to withdraw from the deal due.
Twitter declined to comment, while attorneys for Musk and Dorsey did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Dorsey co-founded Twitter in 2006 and served as CEO until November 2021.
The eccentric, bearded founder supported Musk when Twitter agreed to his buyout deal in April this year.
“I am confident in your mission to spread the light of consciousness,” Dorsey wrote of Musk on the day the deal was announced. “Elon’s goal of creating a platform that is ‘maximally trustworthy and broadly inclusive’ is the right one.”
“This is the right path… I believe it with all my heart,” Dorsey added.
Dorsey left Twitter’s board of directors in May, just days after Musk said he was “on hold” due to his concerns about bots.
Musk has also spoken positively of Dorsey.
In March 2020, when Dorsey was about to be ousted as Twitter CEO by activist investor Elliott Management, Musk publicly endorsed Dorsey.
“I just want to say that I support @Jack as CEO of Twitter. he has a good [heart]Musk wrote.
Both Musk and Twitter launched a wide web of subpoenas in August as they prepare for the trial in Twitter’s lawsuit set to begin on October 17.
Beyond Dorsey, Musk cited JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, which advised Twitter during the deal negotiations. He also cited Twitter’s former head of consumer products, Kayvon Beykpour, and former head of revenue products, Bruce Falck, among others.
Meanwhile, Twitter subpoenaed a list of Musk’s friends, including elite tech investors Marc Andreessen, Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks, Steve Jurvetson, Jason Calacanis, Keith Rabois, and Joe Lonsdale.
Lonsdale criticized the subpoenas as a “giant stalking fishing expedition”.
This article was originally published by the NY Post and has been reproduced with permission.
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