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Conservative political commentator Ashley St. Clair sued Elon Musk in New York's highest court to determine her five-month-old daughter's father and secure sole custody for herself. The suit was salacious because of the celebrity status of the defendant and the judicial drama involved in the question of parental rights.
The court filing accuses Musk of publicly acknowledging paternity but failing to be a regular presence in the child's life. Given that Musk is already a litigant in numerous custody battles, the case contributes to his long list of court cases, fueling controversy regarding the place of celebrity icons as parents.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
St. Clair, 26, according to court records, claims to have dated Musk in 2023 and became pregnant with their child during a January 2024 vacation in St. Barths. In her court document, she claims that Musk has verbally accepted paternity in casual comments but has done nothing on purpose to participate in the life of the child.
St. Clair said Musk did not even spend a minute with the child except three times since the kid was born last September 2024. The lawsuit also claimed that Musk did not even request custody and even appeared not too concerned about the co-parenting duties as well.
Evidence Produced in Court Documents
The suit includes allegedly exchanged text messages between Musk and St. Clair, in which Musk purportedly discourses on having children. In one of the messages, he purportedly states that he needed more children. Lawyers representing Musk for St. Clair assert that the messages are the admission of paternity of the child by Musk, even in allegations that he had been negligent as a parent.
The suit further asks for court confirmation of paternity through an affirmative DNA test. The child, if the petition is granted, would be Musk's 13th known child.
Legal Proceedings and Custody Request
Lawyers representing St. Clair have said the initial attempts to resolve the matter privately failed due to the failure of Musk representatives to respond. The court filing requests sole custody, holding Musk responsible for his lack of interest in raising the child.
Legal advice states that the court may instruct a paternity test to ascertain Musk's status about the child before deciding on custodial or financial responsibility. The court will render a verdict on the basis of a number of legal factors, including Musk's response to the lawsuit.
Elon Musk's Response
Musk has not yet made any comments regarding the lawsuit. Nonetheless, he was reportedly involved in other court proceedings for paternity and custody, including the recent paternity controversy between singer Grimes and their three children.
Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO, previously openly expressed his thoughts regarding parenthood and population increase but has yet to comment on this case's allegations directly.
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