{"id":2649462,"date":"2026-08-25T16:59:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T20:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-da-declines-to-charge-elon-musk-for-bribery-in-2025-state-election\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T17:41:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T21:41:01","slug":"wisconsin-da-declines-to-charge-elon-musk-for-bribery-in-2025-state-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-da-declines-to-charge-elon-musk-for-bribery-in-2025-state-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin DA declines to charge Elon Musk for bribery in 2025 state election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwisconsin-da-declines-to-charge-elon-musk-for-bribery-in-2025-state-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2649462&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Wisconsin district attorney has decided not to file criminal charges against Tesla CEO Elon Musk regarding alleged bribery during the state&#8217;s 2025 Supreme Court elections. District Attorney Tim Gruenke explained that securing a conviction for bribery based on Musk\u2019s actions-such as giving away two $1 million checks to voters-was unlikely, especially after considering Musk\u2019s subsequent clarification post. Musk initially posted on X that he would give out checks to voters who signed a petition against &#8220;activist judges,&#8221; which was later clarified to be limited to those who signed the petition, not necessarily for voting.Gruenke stated that nobody received payment for voting, and he believed the intent was not criminal.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to the event, Musk posted on social media about giving the checks in recognition for voting, which was taken down and replaced with a clarifying post about supporting the petition, leading to the decision not to pursue charges. Musk supported conservative candidate Brad Schimel with campaign funds, but Schimel lost to liberal candidate Susan Crawford, maintaining Wisconsin\u2019s liberal majority on the Supreme Court. Gruenke noted that legal action against Musk was unlikely given the context and the lack of concrete evidence of bribery.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"239\">Wisconsin<\/a> district attorney has decided not to pursue criminal charges against Tesla CEO <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1412\">Elon Musk<\/a> over allegations of bribery in the state\u2019s 2025 Supreme Court elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke said he did not think he could secure a jury verdict on bribery charges involving Musk, the world\u2019s first trillionaire, for giving away $1 million to two voters during the 2025 race. At a March 2025 event in Green Bay, Musk <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3363820\/musk-2-million-says-humanity-at-stake-wisconsin-election\/\">handed out two $1 million checks<\/a> to Wisconsinites who signed his\u00a0America PAC petition against \u201cactivist judges,\u201d a move that stirred up controversy and a lawsuit from the left.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4700185\/splc-heidi-beirich-pleads-not-guilty-donor-fraud\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Former SPLC chief financial officer pleads not guilty in donor fraud case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4699889\/elon-musk-wisconsin-bribery-charges\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DA declines to pursue criminal charges against Musk over Wisconsin bribery allegations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4699980\/doj-warns-replace-kennedy-center-with-amphitheater-if-renovation-canceled\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ warns Kennedy Center will be torn down and replaced with amphitheater if renovation canceled<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNobody was paid anything of value for voting or promising to vote,\u201d Gruenke wrote on Tuesday, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wbay.com\/2026\/08\/25\/special-prosecutor-declines-criminal-charges-against-elon-musk-2025-election\/\">according<\/a> to local news outlet WBAY.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the event, Musk had made two posts on X, posts that Gruenke ultimately centered his decision on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Musk\u2019s first post <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/news\/elon-musk-wisconsin-visit-giveaway-supreme-court-race-schimel-crawford\">read<\/a>: \u201cOn Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin. Entrance is limited to those who have voted in the Supreme Court Election. I will personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This post was taken down about 12 hours after publication and replaced by a second post.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn 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,\u201d Musk <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1905673297439666486?s=20\">wrote<\/a> on X in the second post. \u201cI will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gruenke called the first post \u201cpoorly worded and ambiguous,\u201d according to the local outlet, but did not take issue with the second.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEven if I could convince a jury that the original post was still a bribe, I do not believe a jury would convict Elon Musk of a crime after considering the intent, the second post, and the fact nothing of value was even given to anyone for voting,\u201d Gruenke wrote, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4649682\/musk-dump-5-million-ramaswamy-campaign\/\"><strong>MUSK DUMPS $5 MILLION IN RAMASWAMY\u2019S CAMPAIGN DESPITE DOGE FALLOUT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Supreme Court election, Musk campaigned for and poured millions of dollars into support of conservative judge candidate Brad Schimel, who ultimately lost to liberal candidate Susan Crawford.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crawford\u2019s election maintained the purple state\u2019s liberal tilt on the Supreme Court. Schimel would have flipped it into a conservative majority\u2019s hands if elected.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisconsin DA won\u2019t charge Musk over 2025 Supreme Court bribery<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2649464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26210651212756-e1785436828953.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[20427,32192,4124],"class_list":["post-2649462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bribery","tag-elon-musk","tag-wisconsin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26210651212756-e1785436828953.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2649462"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2649465,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649462\/revisions\/2649465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2649464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2649462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2649462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2649462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}