Lawsuit seeks to stop Elon Musk’s $1M daily PAC giveaway in battleground states, alleging illegal voter influence ahead of 2024 election.
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| Philadelphia court mandates Elon Musk to appear over claims his $1 million PAC giveaway violates federal election laws. File Image |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA — October 31, 2024:
A Philadelphia judge has mandated that Elon Musk and associated parties attend a court hearing on Thursday concerning the tech billionaire's controversial $1 million election giveaway initiative.
The hearing will address a lawsuit, filed by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on Monday, aimed at stopping America PAC, a political action committee backed by Musk, from awarding $1 million to registered voters in battleground states. The timing is critical, with the U.S. presidential election set for Nov. 5. Musk’s PAC has publicly supported Republican former President Donald Trump, who faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in what is expected to be a tight race for the White House.
The District Attorney's Office argues that the giveaway constitutes an “illegal lottery,” allegedly enticing Pennsylvania residents to share personal information. “It is further ordered that all parties must be present at the time of the hearing,” the judge wrote in a formal order on Wednesday. Initially scheduled for Friday, the hearing was moved up to Thursday morning by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
Musk's America PAC has been offering $1 million daily to individuals who sign an online petition promoting free speech and gun rights. Legal experts are divided over the legality of Musk’s offer, with some suggesting it may breach federal laws prohibiting financial incentives for voter registration.
Adding to the scrutiny, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a warning to America PAC, cautioning that such financial giveaways could potentially violate federal election laws, CNN reported last week.
With the Trump campaign largely reliant on outside groups to reach and mobilize voters, Musk’s super PAC plays an influential role in this high-stakes election. However, neither Musk nor representatives from America PAC have provided any comment on the matter yet.