The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for March 31, 2025
Shortly after our report on Elon Musk’s $100 dollar bounty for signing and referring others to a Wisconsin “activist judges” petition, he sweetened the deal Thursday, dangling a promise of a $1 million dollar lottery check, just days before the April 1st Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
In Musk’s original social media announcement of his America PAC’s lottery, he said, “I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote.” That’s illegal under Wisconsin law.
So Friday, he re-posted that winners of the lottery would instead be “spokesmen” against “activist judges.” Musk said the March 30th rally where he intended to distribute the checks was limited only to registered voters who had signed his petition.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed for an emergency injunction, which was rejected by a circuit court judge Friday, then by a Wisconsin appeals court Saturday, which said it couldn’t grant an injunction without hearing the merits of the case. Sunday morning, March 30th, the AG appealed to the state supreme court to stop the check distribution.
The Democratic candidate in the race, Susan Crawford, said it was “immoral” for Musk to try to buy votes with his million-dollar giveaways, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
We have Musk’s post, links to the appeals and local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign – Millions Spent, But Only Wisconsinites Can Decide: A Deep Dive into 2025 Campaign Spending
Associated Press – Musk announces $1 million for Wisconsin voter in Supreme Court race. Opposition calls it ‘corrupt’
Wisconsin Legislature – Statute on Election Bribery
Wisconsin Politics – Appeals Court denies Kaul’s request to bar Musk, America PAC from giving $1M payments to voters
Wisconsin Court of Appeals via WI Politics – Decision on AG’s Appeal
WI Attorney General via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Appeal to Wisconsin Supreme Court
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Crawford calls Musk’s $1 million giveaway ‘immoral,’ Schimel says he doesn’t control the billionaire
Groups Taking Action:
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Common Cause, Public Citizen
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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