Law Forward Responds to Elon Musk’s Delay Tactics in Wisconsin Alleged Voter Bribery Case

MADISON, Wis. – Law Forward, Democracy Defenders Fund, and Hecker Fink LLP today filed responses opposing Elon Musk and affiliated entities’ motions requesting change of venue and judicial recusal in the ongoing lawsuit alleging an illegal voter bribery scheme during Wisconsin’s 2025 Supreme Court election.

“These are transparent delay tactics that misrepresent both the facts and the law,” said Jeff Mandell, President and General Counsel of Law Forward. “The defendants’ motions are baseless attempts to avoid accountability under Wisconsin’s strong election bribery law. We look forward to the day when we can make our arguments in court and hold these bad actors accountable for distorting Wisconsin’s democracy.”

The response opposing a change of venue demonstrates that Dane County is the proper venue under Wisconsin law for the case to proceed. Musk’s scheme impacted voters across Wisconsin, including a substantial number in Dane County, which has the highest voter turnout rate of any county in the state. Additionally, Elon Musk does substantial business in Dane County and donated millions to the Wisconsin Republican Party, which is headquartered in Madison.

Today’s filing also highlights that there is no merit to the defendants’ demand that the entire Dane County bench be disqualified from hearing this case. Judges are under no obligation to recuse themselves based upon previous recusal decisions in fundamentally different cases involving different parties and different claims under the law.

“These cynical attempts to dodge responsibility for a scheme that sought to undermine Wisconsin’s democratic process are meritless,” said Ambassador (ret.) Norm Eisen, co-counsel and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. “We believe the court will see through these tactics and allow this consequential case to move forward.”

“We will keep fighting for a ruling on the merits of this important case, in order to safeguard next year’s judicial elections against defendants’ schemes and illegal lotteries,” said John Quinn of Hecker Fink LLP.

The lawsuit, filed in June on behalf of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Wisconsin voters, alleges that Musk, America PAC, and United States of America Inc. violated multiple Wisconsin laws during the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.

The complaint alleges a brazen scheme to induce Wisconsin citizens to vote through illegal payments, including three $1 million “awards” to Wisconsinites who voted for Musk’s endorsed candidate. The scheme included offering registered voters $100 to sign a petition and dangling million-dollar awards before those who signed and voted.

Wisconsin law prohibits offering more than $1 to induce anyone to go to the polls or vote. The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent such conduct in future Wisconsin elections.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.