You posit as if Vernon was some sort of official, he wasn’t. It was collective effort by many many people.
The reason Musk got upset was the interview with Vernon where he got mean about Musk’s efforts. And since freedom of speech, Musk got mean in return.
Vernon tried to sue to no avail which all you need to know a out him.
Painting Musk a villain here is insane. He tried to help, instead he got slandered and sued.