Elon Musk’s lawyers are hoping to delay the Twitter trial, about the $44 billion acquisition deal, which Musk is trying to get out of. A whistleblower disclosure that hit the news last week is giving Musk even more justification to feel that Twitter is a bad deal.
The whistleblower information revealed risks that Twitter is allegedly taking, that affect US security, among other allegations.
The trial is supposed to go forward in the middle of October, but Musk’s lawyers are trying to delay it to November.
In the motion to delay the trial, the lawyers presented a copy of whistleblower Peiter Zatko’s disclosure, which was published by CNN and the Washington Post.
Twitter is accusing Musk of breaking their deal and is trying to force him to go through with it.
A spokesperson for Twitter said that Twitter is “committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Mr. Musk. We have not breached any of our representations or obligations under the Agreement, and have not suffered and are not likely to suffer a Company Material Adverse Effect.”
Musk’s lawyers sent a letter to Twitter management on Monday saying the whistleblower disclosure, if true, is a breach by Twitter.
Musk has other arguments against Twitter in his attempt to cancel his purchase. He accused the company of lying about bots on the Twitter platform and fake accounts. Zatko’s disclosure goes into more detailed about Twitter’s fake accounts.
Twitter is denying Zatko’s claims.
Zatko, known as “Mudge,” is a network security expert who worked as head of security for Twitter in the past.
Zatko has been subpoenaed by Musk’s lawyers and is expected to give testimony on September 9, although Musk’s lawyers say that Zatko is being forced to do so.
Zatko’s attorneys, Debra Katz and Alexis Ronickher, said in a statement Monday. “He did not make his whistleblower disclosures to the appropriate governmental bodies to benefit Musk or to harm Twitter, but rather to protect the American public and Twitter shareholders.”
Zatko is also expected to speak at a Senate hearing on September 13.