Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has taken his fight against Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaway directly to the state Supreme Court after an appeals court rejected his initial attempt. Kaul is seeking to block Musk from giving payments to Wisconsin voters just hours before an event in Green Bay where Musk is campaigning for conservative court candidate Brad Schimel.
In his original lawsuit, Kaul described Musk’s scheme as “egregious” and illegal, aimed at influencing voters right before a crucial state Supreme Court election. The lawsuit targets Musk’s announcement that two Wisconsin voters would receive $1 million each at an event, on the condition that they vote in the upcoming election.
Musk’s social media posts offering financial incentives for voting raised concerns about violating Wisconsin election laws. Kaul is seeking emergency relief to stop the payouts, arguing that Musk’s plan is a blatant attempt to violate state statutes.
The legal battle comes amidst a high-stakes election that could shift Wisconsin’s political and judicial landscape. Musk’s America PAC previously launched a petition campaign offering money to registered voters who oppose “activist judges,” with additional incentives for referrals.
While Musk has not directly commented on the lawsuit, he shared a post criticizing the legal action as “lawfare” orchestrated by Democrats who fear his influence on Wisconsin voters. The outcome of this legal dispute could have significant implications for the upcoming election and the state’s judicial system.