Philadelphia prosecutors have taken Elon Musk and his political group, America PAC, to court, aiming to block a $1 million cash giveaway that Musk set up for voters in key swing states.
The lawsuit, filed by Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner, accuses Musk of running an “illegal lottery” and calls for an immediate halt before the upcoming presidential election on November 5.
According to the BBC, Krasner argues that the program misleads people into sharing private information, like phone numbers and addresses, with a promise of a possible $1 million prize – a tactic that he calls both deceptive and unlawful.
Musk launched this effort in October, promising to randomly award $1 million to voters in crucial states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan, each day until November 5.
While voters aren’t required to register as Republicans or vote to enter, they must share their personal details and pledge to support the U.S.
Constitution to qualify. Nine people have already won the $1 million prize, including a Michigan resident, but the lawsuit warns that the giveaway could unfairly influence voter turnout in these tightly contested regions.
Musk, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has sparked backlash from Democrats and drawn attention from the U.S. Justice Department, which last week warned America PAC that this lottery-like strategy could breach federal election law.
While the law prohibits paying people to register to vote, legal experts told the BBC that the legality of Musk’s specific approach is a grey area.
Philadelphia’s district attorney argues that Musk’s prize stunt could sway voters right before the election, pushing people to share private information and take a political pledge for a chance at winning.
The lawsuit isn’t accusing Musk of directly buying votes but does claim the giveaway is illegal under consumer protection laws.
BBC reports that the court will review the case on Friday, just days before the election, as the legal battle heats up.
Meanwhile, a representative for America PAC told ABC News they intend to keep awarding the $1 million checks.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e7lnye61eo