The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to refer complaints against billionaire Elon Musk to prosecutors, finding probable cause that his $1 million voter giveaways during the 2025 Supreme Court election violated state bribery laws. Musk and America PAC spent over $20 million backing conservative Brad Schimel, who lost to liberal Susan Crawford in a record-breaking $100 million race. Brown County District Attorney David Lasee has 40 days to decide whether to file felony charges.
Wisconsin Elections Commission referral
- ▪The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5–1 to refer two complaints against Elon Musk to the Brown County District Attorney's office, finding probable cause that he violated state election bribery laws
- ▪The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, consisting of three Democrats and three Republicans, approved the referral motion in a closed session
Musk million-dollar voter payments
- ▪Elon Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, distributed $1 million payments to three Wisconsin voters in connection with the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
- ▪Elon Musk's America PAC offered smaller payments, such as $100, to individuals who signed petitions opposing activist judges and referred others to do the same
Wisconsin election bribery statute
- ▪Wisconsin's election bribery statute makes it illegal to offer anything of value to induce an elector to vote, not vote, or support a candidate
- ▪A violation of Wisconsin's election bribery statute is classified as a Class I felony, carrying a potential penalty of up to three and a half years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both
Supreme Court race spending
- ▪Elon Musk and his affiliated groups spent at least $20 million supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who lost the election to liberal candidate Susan Crawford
- ▪The April 1, 2025, Wisconsin Supreme Court election became the most expensive judicial race in United States history, with total spending exceeding $100 million
Potential criminal prosecution timeline
- ▪The Brown County District Attorney has 40 days to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Elon Musk following the commission's referral
- ▪Brown County District Attorney David Lasee, a Republican, is the prosecutor responsible for deciding whether to pursue criminal charges against Elon Musk
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