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Why Elon Musk’s million-dollar pledge is stirring controversy

Author
AFP,
Publish Date
Sat, 29 Mar 2025, 11:43am

Why Elon Musk’s million-dollar pledge is stirring controversy

Author
AFP,
Publish Date
Sat, 29 Mar 2025, 11:43am
  •  faces legal action for promising US$1 million ($1.75m) to influence Wisconsin鈥檚 Supreme Court race.
  • Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul seeks a court order to stop Musk鈥檚 offer.
  • Musk鈥檚 actions aim to support Republican Brad Schimel, affecting key issues such as abortion and voting rules.

Billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk faced an immediate legal challenge Friday to his promise to give US$1 million ($1.75m) to two voters in Wisconsin鈥檚 Supreme Court race in his latest attempt to use his vast fortune to sway the results of crucial US votes.

Wisconsin Attorney-General Josh Kaul wrote on Instagram that his office was 鈥渁ware of the offer recently posted by Elon Musk鈥 and said he plans to 鈥渢ake legal action today to seek a court order to stop this from happening鈥.

Musk, the world鈥檚 richest person and one of US President Donald Trump鈥檚 top advisers, has already spent millions trying to boost support for Republican Brad Schimel, who would tilt the swing state鈥檚 top court to a conservative majority if elected.

White House senior adviser Elon Musk is offering US$1m ($1.75m) to two voters in his latest attempt to sway the results of a crucial US vote. Photo / Getty Images White House senior adviser Elon Musk is offering US$1m ($1.75m) to two voters in his latest attempt to sway the results of a crucial US vote. Photo / Getty Images

The announced on X, which he also owns, that he would 鈥渉and over checks for a million dollars鈥 to two people who sign a petition opposing 鈥渁ctivist judges鈥 鈥 a term used by Republicans for judges who rule against some of Trump鈥檚 policies.

He has also offered US$100 to anyone signing the petition.

Serious national issues are on the docket for the Wisconsin court鈥檚 next term, including abortion access and rules for voting in the crucial 2026 mid-term nationwide congressional elections.

Schimel is also openly backed by Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social platform this week that the race is 鈥渞eally big and important鈥.

The latest stunt was a redux of Musk鈥檚 earlier million-dollar prizes in battleground states during the presidential election.

The entrepreneur has rapidly emerged as one of the most powerful people in the country, with huge government contracts for his companies and a free-ranging role in Trump鈥檚 administration to slash spending on everything from foreign policy to domestic programs.

In January,  amid consumer anger at Musk 鈥 took Wisconsin to court over the state鈥檚 denial of dealer licences for the automotive company.

鈥 Agence France-Presse

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