Elon Musk's million-dollar move heats up Wisconsin elections
Elon Musk handed two individuals checks valued at $1 million to voters in Wisconsin. This was his way of promoting a petition aimed at stopping "activist" judges. At the same time, both he and Donald Trump endorsed Brad Schimel in the Wisconsin Supreme Court elections.
The billionaire Elon Musk hands out $1 million checks to voters in Wisconsin. The State Supreme Court refused to intervene in the matter. Musk announced this initiative ahead of the upcoming Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin, which will take place on Tuesday, according to BBC reports.
Josh Kaul, the Attorney General of Wisconsin, attempted to block Musk's action, arguing that it violates laws prohibiting offering gifts in exchange for votes. Musk and his lawyers argued that the checks are intended to create a movement against "activist" judges, not to endorse a specific candidate.
It was two individuals who signed the petition to stop "activist" judges who received two checks amounting to a million dollars. They are Ekaterina Diestler and Nicholas Jacobs. Elon Musk donated $14 million to Judge Schimel's campaign, making the race the most expensive judicial nomination race in the country's history, according to BBC reports.
Already last year, the billionaire encouraged residents of seven states in a similar way to sign petitions supporting the First and Second Amendment rights, which talk about the prohibition of restricting freedom of religion, the press, speech, petition, and assembly, as well as the right to bear arms.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are seen as crucial, potentially shifting the balance of power in favor of Republicans.
Musk, along with Donald Trump, supports the conservative candidate, Judge Brad Schimel, according to the BBC. He will compete against Susan Crawford, who has been endorsed by liberal judges. Schimel himself has distanced himself from Musk's decision to hand out checks to voters. The elections are also considered a referendum on Trump's second term, and their outcome could affect future court decisions on issues such as abortion rights or redistricting.
