Wisconsin panel says Musk likely broke election bribery law

A bipartisan state elections panel has found that billionaire Elon Musk likely violated Wisconsin law by offering $1 million checks to voters ahead of the 2025 state Supreme Court election, referring the matter to local prosecutors for potential criminal charges. The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5-1 in a closed session last week to forward two confidential complaints to the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, which now has 40 days to decide whether to formally accuse Musk of election bribery.

The commission, which is evenly split between three Democratic and three Republican appointees, found probable cause that Musk broke the law through a social media post offering a $1 million reward to people who voted in the Supreme Court election, an offer intended to induce them to vote. Commission spokesperson Emilee Miklas confirmed the referral. Musk physically handed out checks at a political rally in Green Bay, located in Brown County, just days before the election. Three Wisconsin voters ultimately received the checks, including two who collected them on stage at that event.

The complaints were originally filed by voters in Milwaukee and Green Bay. Brown County District...