Elon Musk's promise of $1 million voter payouts likely illegal, panel says

Key Points:

• A bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission found probable cause that Elon Musk violated state election bribery laws by promising $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election, referring complaints to the Brown County district attorney for possible criminal charges.
• Musk and affiliated groups spent over $20 million supporting Republican candidate Brad Schimel, who lost to Democrat Susan Crawford, in the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with total spending exceeding $100 million.
• Musk personally gave $1 million checks to three Wisconsin voters, including two at a Green Bay rally shortly before the election, actions that prompted complaints from voters and a lawsuit from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign alleging illegal vote bribery and unauthorized lotteries.
• Legal attempts to stop Musk’s cash giveaways were unsuccessful, with courts rejecting the Democratic attorney general’s efforts; Musk’s attorneys claim the payments are protected free speech aimed at opposing "activist judges" rather than directly supporting candidates.