A man faces charges for sending harmful messages to MP Jess Phillips amid a heated debate sparked by Elon Musk’s remarks
Seaton: A 39-year-old guy named Jack Bennett has been charged for sending nasty messages to Jess Phillips. This all kicked off after Elon Musk criticized her over the grooming gang issue.
According to Devon and Cornwall Police, Bennett sent offensive messages not just to Phillips but also to two other folks. The charges stem from reports of these malicious communications that happened between April 2024 and January 2025.
He’s facing three counts of malicious communications and has been released on bail. He’s set to appear in front of Exeter magistrates on February 18.
Things got heated when Musk, who owns the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said Phillips should be jailed and called her a “rape genocide apologist.” This was after she turned down a request for a government-led inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
Instead, Phillips asked Oldham council to start its own local inquiry into past child sexual abuse, similar to what was done in Rochdale and Telford.
In her letter to the council, she acknowledged the strong feelings for a Home Office-led inquiry but said the government wouldn’t step in.
Musk’s comments stirred up a lot of reactions. Sir Keir Starmer mentioned that when the far-Right’s poison leads to serious threats against people like Phillips, it crosses a line.
The Prime Minister also weighed in, suggesting that those calling for a national inquiry were just trying to ride the far-Right wave. He called Musk “desperate for attention” and said those spreading lies aren’t really interested in victims.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, criticized Musk’s remarks as poorly thought out, defending Phillips as someone who has done a lot to help victims of violence.
He pointed out that it’s easy for people like Musk to shoot off comments without understanding the hard work that goes into fighting these issues.
The Home Office has chosen not to comment on the situation.
