Special prosecutor to handle WEC complaints against Elon Musk
MADISON, Wis. — A special prosecutor will handle two Wisconsin Elections Commission complaints against Elon Musk regarding the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
After the commission found that Musk broke a state election bribery law during that election, it referred the complaints to the Brown County District Attorney’s Office.
However, District Attorney David Lasee found that the office had a conflict of interest and appointed La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke as a special prosecutor.
“DA Gruenke is an experienced prosecutor, who is highly competent and well-respected throughout the state. I am confident that DA Gruenke will carefully and professionally review this matter and arrive at an appropriate conclusion,” Lasee said in a statement.
The complaints were from a Milwaukee man and a Green Bay woman.
WEC specifically said that Musk violated the election bribery law by “making a social media post that offered $1 million to individuals who voted in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election in order to induce them to vote in that election.”
That law bans people from providing “anything of value” to vote, or refrain from voting, if its value exceeds one dollar.
Musk was heavily involved in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election that pitted conservative Brad Schimel against liberal Susan Crawford. Despite Musk’s contributions to Schimel’s campaign, Crawford ultimately won the contest.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
