Billionaire Elon Musk has made headlines with his decision to give away checks of $1 million each to voters in Wisconsin, a move that has ignited a firestorm of debate regarding electoral integrity and free speech.
Musk's $1M Cheque Giveaway Sparks Controversy in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
Musk's $1M Cheque Giveaway Sparks Controversy in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
Elon Musk's grand cheque giveaway raises eyebrows amid the critical Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Wisconsin's Supreme Court was recently thrust into the spotlight as Elon Musk doled out $1 million (£770,000) cheques to voters ahead of the impending high-stakes Supreme Court election set for Tuesday. This gesture comes in light of the court's refusal to halt Musk's giveaway, which has drawn criticism from the state's attorney general, Democrat Josh Kaul. Kaul argues that the giveaway constitutes a violation of a state law prohibiting gifts in exchange for votes.
During a rally on Sunday night, Musk articulated his stance, stating, "we just want judges to be judges," while presenting two cheques to voters advocating against what he termed "activist" judges. In response to Kaul's legal attempts to stop the giveaway, Musk's legal team contended that the attorney general's actions were infringing upon Musk's right to free speech under the First Amendment, emphasizing that the giveaway aimed to foster grassroots activism rather than promote specific candidates.
Despite Kaul's call for intervention by the state’s Supreme Court, the court unanimously opted not to hear the case, leaving Musk free to continue his promotional strategy. Adding fuel to the fire, Musk, alongside former President Donald Trump, has endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County Judge, with the hopes of swaying the court's balance in favor of Republicans. Schimel is set to face off against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, who has garnered support from the court's liberal justices.
This election not only represents a critical moment for Wisconsin politics, but is also being viewed as a signal for Trump’s potential 2024 campaign, particularly on issues like abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and voting regulations anticipated to impact the 2026 midterm elections. Musk has directed a staggering $14 million towards Schimel’s campaign, in what has culminated into the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with overall expenditures reaching $81 million.
Despite Musk's involvement, Schimel seemed to distance himself from the billionaire recently, remarking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is." This isn’t Musk's first foray into voter giveaways; he previously offered a similar cash prize in the past year, which was later deemed lawful by a Pennsylvania judge despite prior concerns about its legality.
During a rally on Sunday night, Musk articulated his stance, stating, "we just want judges to be judges," while presenting two cheques to voters advocating against what he termed "activist" judges. In response to Kaul's legal attempts to stop the giveaway, Musk's legal team contended that the attorney general's actions were infringing upon Musk's right to free speech under the First Amendment, emphasizing that the giveaway aimed to foster grassroots activism rather than promote specific candidates.
Despite Kaul's call for intervention by the state’s Supreme Court, the court unanimously opted not to hear the case, leaving Musk free to continue his promotional strategy. Adding fuel to the fire, Musk, alongside former President Donald Trump, has endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County Judge, with the hopes of swaying the court's balance in favor of Republicans. Schimel is set to face off against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, who has garnered support from the court's liberal justices.
This election not only represents a critical moment for Wisconsin politics, but is also being viewed as a signal for Trump’s potential 2024 campaign, particularly on issues like abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and voting regulations anticipated to impact the 2026 midterm elections. Musk has directed a staggering $14 million towards Schimel’s campaign, in what has culminated into the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with overall expenditures reaching $81 million.
Despite Musk's involvement, Schimel seemed to distance himself from the billionaire recently, remarking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is." This isn’t Musk's first foray into voter giveaways; he previously offered a similar cash prize in the past year, which was later deemed lawful by a Pennsylvania judge despite prior concerns about its legality.
