The district attorney of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit to halt Elon Musk's $1 million giveaways as part of his political organization's effort to boost Donald Trump's presidential campaign. This legal action by Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner is the first of its kind regarding the America PAC's sweepstakes, which offers $1 million daily until Nov. 5 to a person in a battleground state who has signed a petition supporting the Constitution.
Krasner's office stated that the lawsuit, occurring just over a week before Election Day, does not rule out potential criminal action. The lawsuit is based on protecting the public from public nuisances, unfair trade practices, illegal lotteries, and interference with the integrity of elections.
The billionaire tech mogul's America PAC, when asked for comment on the lawsuit and whether the cash awards would continue, responded with a link to a post showing the latest $1 million winner holding an oversized check. Questions about the lawsuit, such as whether it requires Musk to immediately cease the giveaway or if the dispute can be resolved before Election Day, remain unanswered by Krasner's office.
Pennsylvania's significance in the election is evident as both Harris and Trump have made multiple recent visits to the state. Musk's giveaway mandates entrants to sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution and serve as spokespeople for the organization to qualify for the prize.
Despite concerns raised by election law experts that the giveaway may violate federal law prohibiting payment for voting or voter registration, the awards have continued. Krasner characterized the $1 million prize as a 'lottery' in his lawsuit announcement, suggesting it should be more heavily regulated.
Filed in a Pennsylvania court, Krasner's suit specifically targets the state and does not directly impact other swing states eligible for the $1 million giveaway. Musk, a prominent figure in the tech industry, has strongly supported Trump in this election, emphasizing the importance of the outcome for civilization. He is actively involved in the get-out-the-vote effort for Trump through his super PAC, which has received substantial financial backing from Musk to aid Trump and other Republicans in the upcoming election.
