Elon Musk is offering cash to people who sign petition in controversial move
With Elon Musk sitting firmly at the side of President Donald Trump, there are continued concerns about the closeness of the world's richest man to the politics of America. Even though Musk's position as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency only makes him a 'special government employee', we've all see the memes about him being the real puppet master and pulling the strings on the POTUS.
Now, Elon Musk is facing more controversy for offering voters money to sign a controversial petition. Despite being warned that his $1 million daily lottery to try and encourage people to vote could be illegal, and despite previously coming under fire for offering $47 to everyone who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the United States Constitution, he's back to splash the cash.
This time, Musk's super PAC is handing out $100 to registered Wisconsin voters who sign a petition that's "in opposition to activist judges." As reported by The New York Times, Musk is spending millions to try and ensure the victory of conservative candidate Brad Schimel for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the upcoming April 1 elections.
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Musk is pushing the petition that reads: "Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. By signing below, I’m rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role — interpreting, not legislating."
The idea is to move attention away from the media and encourage potential conservative voters to register. In turn, this will help America PAC collect data on those most likely to vote for Schimel.
Although Wisconsin celebrated a major liberal victory in 2023, America PAC has reportedly dumped some $11 million into its campaign to get Judge Schimel elected. If Schimel wins, there are fears that the state will be swing toward the right on key issues like abortion rights.
A conservative win could also be good news for Musk's struggling Tesla, with the electric vehicle brand previously suing the state of Wisconsin in an attempt to change a state law that prevents manufacturers from owning dealerships.
We're reminded of when the Philadelphia district attorney attempted to sue Musk over his lottery-style incentives, although a Pennsylvania judge ruled in the billionaire's favor the day before the election.
It comes as the super PAC is revealed to be the top outside spender in the election that will determine the majority on Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court.
In response, Politico adds that Democratic Party of Wisconsin is bombarding the airwaves with two adverts that highlight Musk and the DOGE's connections to Schimel
The ad's narrator refers to the millions his super PAC has spent on the race and says: "Elon Musk is out of control, and now the power-hungry billionaire is unloading millions to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He knows corrupt politician Brad Schimel is for sale and will abolish the checks and balances that protect us."
The all-important Supreme Court race is becoming something of a money pit, but with Musk's pockets being the deepest in the world, trying to spend more than him could become a dangerous game.