Wisconsin AG to pursue legal action against Musk over $2 million supreme court race hand out

The Wisconsin attorney general vowed to take legal action against tech billionaire and President Trump adviser Elon Musk after he said he would make two $1 million payments to individuals who support the candidate of his choosing in the state's Supreme Court race.

“The Wisconsin Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that elections in Wisconsin are safe, secure, free, and fair. We are aware of the offer recently posted by Elon Musk to award a million dollars to two people at an event in Wisconsin this weekend,” Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement sent to The Hill.

“Based on our understanding of applicable Wisconsin law, we intend to take legal action today to seek a court order to stop this from happening,” he added.

On Friday, Musk reiterated his support for Brad Schimel, the Republican-backed candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, saying he will visit the Badger State. The tech billionaire has spent millions of dollars on the race, which will decide the ideological balance of the court.

“I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important,” Musk wrote Friday morning.

Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin immediately labeled Musk’s plan as a violation of state law. 

The Tesla CEO later deleted the post and clarified his intentions.

“On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin. To clarify a previous post, entrance is limited to those who have signed the petition in opposition to activist judges,” Musk wrote in a follow up post.

“I will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition,” he added.

Despite the change, officials say Musk's statement conflicts with Wisconsin state law, which says that anyone who “offers, gives, lends or promises to give or lend, or endeavors to procure, anything of value, or any office or employment or any privilege or immunity to, or for, any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to” go or not go to the polls, or vote or not vote, is illegal.

Schimel and liberal judge Susan Crawford are competing for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently has a 5-4 liberal majority. The election is on April 1.