Bipartisan Wisconsin panel cites 'probable cause' that Musk's $1 million voter checks broke state law

The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has found probable cause that billionaire Elon Musk broke state law when he handed out $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The commission last week referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney's office, where prosecutors can choose to bring criminal charges over violating the state law against election bribery.

Santa Cruz SentinelElon Musk likely broke the law by giving voters $1 million, Wisconsin board says

"The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has found probable cause that billionaire Elon Musk broke state law when he handed out $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election."

KSTPElon Musk likely broke the law by giving voters $1 million, Wisconsin board says

The finding, based on complaints filed after Musk's widely publicized giveaways, marks the first time a state election authority has formally concluded that the tech mogul likely violated election bribery statutes. Musk was deeply involved in the race in battleground Wisconsin, spending at least $20 million on the candidate backed by Republicans, who lost by 10 percentage points, according to KSTP.

"Prosecutors can choose to bring criminal charges over violating the state law against election bribery."

NewsdayElon Musk likely broke the law by promising voters $1 million payouts, Wisconsin board says

The district attorney's office now has 40 days to report back to the commission on whether it will pursue charges, reported the Santa Cruz Sentinel. If prosecutors proceed, the case would test the boundaries of state election law concerning direct financial inducements to voters, a practice that legal experts say is rarely prosecuted but broadly prohibited.