Musk poured a ton of money, time, and energy into this race
In particular, the race was seen as a test of Musk’s political sway, as his super PAC, America PAC, alone spent more than $12 million to support Schimel. He also traveled to Wisconsin the Sunday before the election, where he handed out $1 million checks to voters who had signed his petition against “activist judges.”
Just in time for Trump to declare the courts invalid and implement his own courts under the judicial branch.
This is for a state court, not a federal one
State courts make decisions about state laws and are enforced by state officals
Oh, I know this. I don’t think Trump will care.
Elon Musk does. He poured $12 million into it for a reason. He has cases before the Wisconsin court system for violations of Wisconsin law. They can carry those penalties out without Trump being able to pardon for them either (can only pardon for federal crimes)
Trump doesn’t care about the difference between state and judicial courts. I don’t think Musk does either.
Did they hope this election went their way? Sure, that’s why they spent pocket change on the election. But they don’t care about the structure of courts in America. This was just a nice to have.
Musk spending $25 million and also reduces his grip on congressional Republicans
They have been worried about him funding challangers against them. If he can spend this kind of money and heavier time investment and still lose badly, that reduces a motivation to go along with him
But this doesn’t really have anything go do with my original point. I think Trump fully intends to disregard whatever court goes against him. State or federal.
State courts can carry out arrests and penalties themselves without federal government involvement
Primarily in the context of Musk that’s going to matter with his active cases in the WI court
Other states governments can extradite him too even if he never steps foot in Wisconsin. He’d have to basically never go anywhere other than federal territories or deep red state to avoid that. That’s assuming they’d block his extradition in the first place which is quite rare to begin with
I think if it gets to that point, it might be a legit civil war. But I could see Trump enforcing his “laws” in a state against their will and daring the state to retaliate against his federal police.
I’d guess there would be an executive order related to “free and fair elections” but also giving Trump power to affect elections. State courts will say no, federal police will disregard.
Only if the stormtroopers want to. What do you think they’ll do ?