Billionaire Elon Musk has handed out $1 million (£770,000) cheques to Wisconsin voters after the state Supreme Court declined to block the giveaway. The move comes ahead of Tuesday’s highly contested Supreme Court election, a race that could shift the court’s balance of power in favour of Republicans.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, had sued to stop Musk’s giveaway, arguing it violated state laws against offering gifts in exchange for votes. However, Musk’s legal team countered that the payments were a form of political speech protected under the First Amendment.
Speaking at a rally on Sunday, Musk defended his actions, stating, “We just want judges to be judges.” He distributed two $1 million cheques to voters who signed a petition against what he called “activist” judges.
Kaul’s legal challenge was rejected by lower courts, and the state’s Supreme Court refused to hear the case, clearing the way for Musk’s controversial payouts. The billionaire, along with former President Donald Trump, has endorsed conservative candidate Judge Brad Schimel in the election. Schimel is running against Judge Susan Crawford, who has the backing of the court’s liberal justices.
With the election seen as a referendum on Trump’s presidency and pivotal issues like abortion rights and congressional redistricting, Musk has contributed $14 million to Schimel’s campaign. The judicial race has shattered spending records, with total expenditures surpassing $81 million.
Despite Musk’s vocal support, Judge Schimel has attempted to distance himself, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinelhe was unaware of the rally or Musk’s plans.
This is not Musk’s first foray into political giveaways. Last year, he launched a similar initiative, offering $1 million per day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed petitions supporting First and Second Amendment rights. A Pennsylvania judge later ruled that effort legal, stating there was no evidence of an unlawful lottery.
As Wisconsin voters head to the polls, Musk’s actions continue to fuel debate over the influence of money in politics and the role of billionaires in shaping judicial elections.
Melissa Enoch
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