A Pennsylvania state judge has allowed Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day giveaway to voters in key swing states to continue, just one day before the closely contested US presidential election between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, Reuters reports.
The America PAC, backed by nearly $120 million from Musk, has awarded $16 million to registered voters in seven battleground states who signed a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. PAC Director Chris Young testified that the winners were selected from candidates who agreed to appear in promotional videos for the PAC after reviewing their social media and meeting them at events, contradicting Musk’s claims of a random selection process.
Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit to block the giveaway, asserting that it lacked clear rules and amounted to an “illegal lottery,” but Judge Angelo Foglietta denied his request, stating he would provide reasoning later. Musk’s legal team argued that the giveaway was not a prize but compensation for individuals selected to promote America PAC’s message. Krasner’s team contended that the admissions made in court indicated the giveaway was fraudulent.
The case raises legal questions regarding election laws, particularly about the legality of paying people to register to vote. The US Department of Justice has warned America PAC about potential violations, but no federal action has been taken yet.
