Elon Musk faces Wisconsin election bribery referral

A bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, composed of three Democrats and three Republicans, voted 5‑1 to refer two complaints to the Brown County district attorney. The complaints allege that billionaire Elon Musk gave $1 million checks to three voters during the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, an act that may have crossed the state’s election‑bribery statute, which prohibits offering “anything of value” worth more than $1 to induce a vote.

Musk and affiliated groups, including America PAC, spent at least $20 million supporting Republican candidate Brad Schimel, who lost to Democrat Susan Crawford by about ten points. Total spending on the race topped $100 million, making it the costliest judicial election in U.S. history. Prosecutors have 40 days to decide whether to bring criminal charges. Musk’s lawyers argue the payments are protected speech, while a watchdog lawsuit seeks to bar future cash offers.