MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appellate court docket denied the state Democratic legal professional common’s request to cease billionaire Elon Musk from handing over $1 million checks to 2 voters at a rally deliberate for Sunday, simply two days earlier than a closely contested Supreme Court election.
The denial Saturday by the Wisconsin court docket of appeals is the newest twist in Musk’s deep involvement within the race, which has set a report for spending in a judicial election and has turn into a litmus take a look at for the opening months of Donald Trump’s presidency. Trump and Musk are backing Waukesha County Decide Brad Schimel within the race, whereas Democrats are behind Dane County Decide Susan Crawford.
Legal professional Basic Josh Kaul filed the lawsuit Friday, arguing that Musk’s provide violates the legislation. Kaul on Saturday later appealed to the state Court docket of Appeals, after a county court docket decide refused earlier within the day to listen to the request for an emergency injunction to dam the funds.
Musk plans a rally Sunday the place he intends to offer a pair of Wisconsin voters $1 million every for signing a web-based petition in opposition to “activist” judges. He’s additionally providing $100 to anybody who indicators it; he beforehand gave $1 million to a Inexperienced Bay man who signed.
Musk and teams he funds have poured greater than $20 million into the race, whereas Democratic megadonors, together with George Soros, again Crawford. The race will decide ideological management of the court docket. Liberals at the moment maintain a 4-3 majority however a retirement this yr places the bulk in play. The election concludes Tuesday.
Kaul argued Musk’s promised funds violated a state legislation making it a felony to offer voters something of worth in change for them voting.
Musk’s political motion committee used a nearly identical tactic earlier than the presidential election final yr, offering to pay $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and 6 different battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. A decide in Pennsylvania stated prosecutors failed to show the trouble was an unlawful lottery and allowed it to proceed via Election Day.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court docket race comes because the court docket is predicted to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting guidelines that might have an effect on the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.
Musk initially stated in a put up on his social media platform, X, that he deliberate to “personally hand over” $2 million to a pair of voters who’ve already forged their ballots within the race. Kaul requested the court docket to order Musk to cease selling the Sunday giveaway and to not make any future funds to Wisconsin voters.
Though Musk’s preliminary put up was deleted, there was no announcement that the funds is not going to be made, Kaul argued within the lawsuit.
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Related Press author Scott Bauer contributed to this report.
