United States: Elon Musk can continue offering cash prizes to registered voters for the time being, following a ruling by a Pennsylvania state judge.
The billionaire, through his political group America PAC, has been providing monetary incentives to voters in swing states who sign a petition- an action that some officials claim may violate electoral laws, a charge Musk denies.
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner filed a lawsuit against Musk this week, asserting that his cash giveaways, totalling $1 million (£770,000), should be halted before the upcoming presidential election.
At a hearing on Thursday, Judge Angelo Foglietta decided to pause the lawsuit while a federal court considered whether to take the case. If the federal court opts not to rule on the matter, the case will revert to state court. Musk responded to the ruling stating it was “American Justice FTW (for the win).”
American Justice FTW 🙌 https://t.co/5KKNGHrOXF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2024
The resolution of this case is unlikely before the election on November 5. Krasner’s attorney, John Summers, indicated plans to proceed in federal court and reiterated that the case involves state law issues.
Musk announced earlier this month that he would randomly award $1 million to individuals in battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina- every day until November 5.
To qualify for the giveaway, voters must provide personal information and sign a pledge supporting the US Constitution. The lawsuit accuses Musk of operating an illegal lottery, claiming that he is “lulling Philadelphia citizens to give up their personal identifying information in exchange for a chance to win $1 million.”
Previously, the US Justice Department had warned Musk’s PAC that its lottery-style giveaway could breach federal election law. Legal experts note that while paying individuals to register to vote is illegal under US law, the legality of Musk’s giveaways remains uncertain. If found guilty of violating election laws, Musk could face a $10,000 fine and up to five years in prison.
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