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Wisconsin panel refers Elon Musk $1M voter‑check probe to local DA

techJul 15, 2026545,289

The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 to refer two complaints to the Brown County district attorney after finding probable cause that Elon Musk likely violated Wisconsin’s election bribery law by offering $1 million to voters tied to the 2025 state Supreme Court election. The referrals concern checks Musk handed out at a Green Bay rally and elsewhere; three Wisconsin voters received checks, including two in person at the rally. Prosecutors have 40 days to report back to the commission and may choose whether to bring criminal charges. Musk and groups he supported spent at least $20 million backing Republican-backed candidate Brad Schimel, who lost by 10 percentage points to Democratic-backed Susan Crawford, while total spending in the race topped $100 million. The complaints were filed by voters in Milwaukee and Green Bay and are confidential under state law. A separate lawsuit from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign in Brown County seeks to bar Musk from offering cash payments in the state, and Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general previously sued to stop two payments but was rejected by state courts; Musk’s attorneys have argued the giveaways were protected political speech.

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AP: Elon Musk likely broke Wisconsin law by promising to hand out $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election. The Brown Co. DA will decide whether to bring criminal charges over violating the state law against election bribery. Yes, please! 💙 #ProudBlue #Pinks #SheShed

63144d ago
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