From financemagnates
Amid the US presidential election, Elon Musk's $1 million-a-day voter giveaway, hosted through his America PAC, stirred legal and political debates. Despite accusations from Philadelphia's District Attorney of attempting to influence voter behavior, a Pennsylvania judge ruled on Monday that the contest could continue in swing states through Tuesday's presidential election, Reuters reported.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, filed for an injunction to stop the giveaways, calling them a "scam" designed to sway votes in favor of Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Despite Krasner's arguments, Judge Foglietta ruled in favor of Musk's PAC, though the written explanation for his ruling will reportedly be issued later. The sweepstakes, which targets voters in key battleground states, raised questions about potential violations of state election laws.
Krasner's office argued that the daily giveaways function as an illegal lottery and that the lack of transparency around how recipients are chosen makes it even more problematic.
America PAC's director, Chris Young, reportedly defended the choice to pay certain individuals, describing them as strategic spokespeople who support the PAC's agenda. Young testified that recipients are chosen after appearing in PAC videos or attending related events, thus making them well-suited to the PAC's goals.
He acknowledged the discrepancy between Musk's public statements promising a random selection and the actual practice, noting he was surprised when Musk described the giveaway as random during an October rally.
Although Pennsylvania's state court ruled in favor of allowing the PAC to continue, federal authorities remain cautious. The US Department of Justice reportedly warned Musk that the sweepstakes could infringe on federal regulations against incentivizing voter registration, but no public action has been taken against the PAC so far.
In defending Musk's right to continue the sweepstakes, lawyer Andy Taylor framed the PAC's giveaway as a matter of free speech, arguing that Krasner's attempt to halt the contest suppresses Pennsylvanians' rights to support causes like free speech and gun rights.
Whether the giveaway is a well-intentioned exercise in free expression or a high-stakes attempt at political sway remains a question of perspective. With nearly $120 million funneled into America PAC, Musk's financial commitment underscores his alignment with the Trump campaign.