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.
They might not care, but the courts are not powerless. I keep seeing this sentiment, but I’m continually amazed that people think Trump just ignores it.
The lawsuits and judges making demands arent just words. The problem is that judges do things by the book and most people can’t be bothered to sit around and wait for that to happen.
Trump is currently trying to “out run” the courts. He is aware they have power, he’s trying to remove that power.
January 6th literally was Trump ignoring the rules. If he had a Vice President that was on board, we may be living in a significantly different country right now.
The courts are absolutely powerless. They make decisions and hope that the people in charge recognize their authority and enforce their rules.
Trump is looking for an opportunity to defy the courts and declare them Illegitimate. Then it will be up to local governments to enforce their rules, possibly even against federal officers.
This was who he was in his last term, he just didn’t have the administration fully committed to his goals. That is 100% different this time.
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
Only if the stormtroopers want to. What do you think they’ll do ?
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.