Wisconsin election commissioners refer complaints, say Elon Musk violated state’s bribery law
The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to refer the complaints to the Brown County District Attorney
MADISON, Wis. —
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has referred two complaints to the Brown County District Attorney after finding probable cause that Elon Musk violated the state’s election bribery law ahead of the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
The commission voted 5-1 in closed session late last week to find probable cause that Musk, the tech billionaire and one-time advisor to President Donald Trump, violated state law “by making a social media post that offered one million dollars to individuals who voted in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election in order to induce them to vote in that election.”
The complaints have been forwarded to Brown County District Attorney David Lasee.
Musk handed out two $1 million checks during an event in Green Bay campaigning for then-candidate Brad Schimel, who ended up losing to Susan Crawford. Musk also offered $100 payments to registered voters who signed a petition opposing “activist judges.”
Attorney General Josh Kaul attempted to block Musk from handing out the $1 million checks, a move rejected in the courts and by the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court.