A new lawsuit claims Elon Musk illegally bribed voters by giving out cash prizes in Wisconsin, according to a Washington Post report.
The suit, which was brought on by a Wisconsin nonprofit organization, “claims that Musk, his America PAC and a Musk-linked entity known as United States of America Inc. violated the state’s election law,” politics breaking news reporter Maegan Vazquez wrote.
The complaint claims Musk “violated the state’s prohibition on unauthorized lotteries.”
Vazquez went on to quote the complaint, which called Musk’s move a “brazen scheme to bribe Wisconsin citizens to vote.”
America’s Dairyland has legislation on the books that makes it illegal for anyone to encourage people to vote or vote for a certain person or party by offering voters “any amount of money over $1.”
Before this lawsuit was brought, Wisconsin’s Attorney General, Josh Kaul, “sued Musk and America PAC, arguing that the billionaire was violating a law that bars offering voters something of value in exchange for casting ballots,” the Post reports.
The court threw out the case and “did not explain their rationale.”
Kaul’s suit came after Musk said he was going to give away prize money for any Cheeseheads who have voted early “in appreciation for you taking the time to vote.” The post was later deleted.
Musk did, however, offer Wisconsinites another chance to win some prize money, in a post that was not taken down. The Post reports Musk “offered registered voters who signed a petition opposing activist judges" the money.
The nonprofit organization that brought the lawsuit wants to “bar Musk and the other defendants from replicating such conduct in future Wisconsin elections.” The Post went on to say the plaintiffs “are also asking the court to award damages ‘to the extent supported by law.’”
America PAC declined to comment to the Post on Wednesday about the new complaint.