**Musk Sparks Controversy with $1 Million Checks Before Wisconsin Supreme Court Election**

As the election looms, Musk's actions, interpreted by some as voter incentivization, raise significant questions about political speech and election laws.

In a highly divisive move, tech mogul Elon Musk has distributed $1 million (£770,000) checks to voters in Wisconsin amidst the state's upcoming Supreme Court election, drawing both praise and ire. The cash gifts were announced this week just days before the election, a race that could pivot the state's high court from liberal to conservative, making it one of the most financially charged judicial elections in American history.

Wisconsin's Attorney General, Democrat Josh Kaul, promptly took action to halt Musk's cash giveaway, declaring it a violation of state laws prohibiting gifts in exchange for votes. Despite this, Musk held a rally on Sunday night where he declared, "we just want judges to be judges," while handing out two of the $1 million checks to voters who supported a petition opposing "activist" judges.

In response to Kaul's lawsuit, Musk's legal team contended that the attorney general was infringing upon Musk's right to free speech and that the checks were not explicitly meant to sway votes for a particular candidate, but rather to cultivate opposition against judges with perceived biases. Following rulings from two lower courts siding with Musk, the Wisconsin Supreme Court chose not to intervene, leaving Musk's giveaway intact.

Complicating the legal landscape is Musk's financial backing for Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, a conservative contender in the Supreme Court race, who is facing off against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, who has garnered support from the court's liberal justices. The stakes are high, as this judicial race is viewed by many as a litmus test for Trump's influence and direction in the wake of his second term.

Musk's significant contributions of $14 million to Judge Schimel's campaign have fueled speculation about the election's financial implications, which now total an astronomical $81 million. However, Judge Schimel has attempted to separate himself from Musk's recent antics, expressing confusion about Musk's rally plans while focusing on securing his position.

This recent initiative is not Musk's first foray into voter giveaways; he previously promised $1 million daily to those who signed petitions advocating for First and Second Amendment rights in Wisconsin and other key states. In a ruling last year, a judge in Pennsylvania deemed Musk's prior cash offer legal, setting a precedent for the current controversy.