Elon Musk is being sued by the Philadelphia DA for giving out $1 million to registered voters.
Elon Musk’s $1 million gift to registered voters was halted by a state judge on Monday, according to Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who described the plan as “indisputably an unlawful lottery.”
Musk and his political action group, America PAC, were sued by Krasner.
The lawsuit claimed that Elon Musk and America PAC were operating an unlawful lottery in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania.
To put it another way, Philadelphia residents, along with those in the Commonwealth and other swing states in the next election, are being enticed by America PAC and Musk to divulge their personal information and make a political commitment in exchange for the opportunity to win $1 million. It’s a lottery.
At a campaign rally earlier this month in favor of former President Donald Trump, Musk told Pennsylvania voters about the $1,000 reward.
Musk remarked, “I have a surprise for you,” just before he produced a huge check. “From now until the election, we will be giving $1 million to those who signed the petition every day.”
Election law experts quickly took notice of the $1,000 reward pledge and cautioned that it is illegal to use it as a means of encouraging someone to cast a ballot.
“If you look at the conditions, you must be a registered voter,” Richard Hasen, a professor of electoral law at UCLA, told NPR. Therefore, this is really a lottery that is only accessible to those who have registered to vote. Therefore, it’s either an incentive for someone to vote or it’s a reward. And either way, it violates federal law.”
Several people in key swing states have already reportedly won the cash prize from signing the petition, which purports to support the constitutional promises of free speech and the right to bear arms.
John received $1 MILLION for signing America PAC’s petition to support Free Speech & Right to Bear Arms
Every day from now until Election Day, one registered swing state voter who signs the petition will be selected to earn $1 MILLION
SIGN HERE: https://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/UsyTt3V77r
— America (@america) October 20, 2024