Wisconsin Decides Not to Press Charges Against Elon Musk in Election Bribery Complaint
Wisconsin has decided not to press charges against billionaire Elon Musk in connection with an election bribery complaint. The complaints were related to $1 million checks distributed by Musk during the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Musk, known for his involvement in SpaceX and Tesla, was actively supporting efforts to change the majority control of the state's highest court. The complaints were filed by voters in Milwaukee and Green Bay, with concerns raised about potential bribery. However, the state concluded that Musk's posts were poorly worded and did not result in any actual payments for voting or promising to vote. As a result, the state has chosen not to pursue charges against Musk.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission had referred the complaints to the Brown County district attorney's office for further investigation. The complaints stemmed from Musk's distribution of checks at a rally in Green Bay and an offer of $100 to voters who signed a petition opposing "activist judges." The state acknowledged that Musk's initial post could be interpreted as a bribe, but a subsequent post clarified the intent and corrected any potential violation of election laws. The state emphasized that no one received any valuable consideration for voting or promising to vote, leading to the decision not to charge Musk.
The state highlighted Musk's history of working with campaigns and candidates to address potential violations of election and campaign laws. In this case, the state determined that the issue was a result of a poorly worded statement that was promptly corrected to comply with the law. Despite the initial ambiguity in Musk's post, the state concluded that there was no evidence of criminal intent or actual bribery. Therefore, the state has opted not to pursue charges against Musk in this matter.
In conclusion, Wisconsin has decided not to charge Elon Musk with any crimes related to the election bribery complaint. The state found that Musk's posts, while initially ambiguous, did not result in any actual payments for voting or promising to vote. The state emphasized Musk's cooperation in addressing potential violations and concluded that there was no basis for criminal charges in this case.