Elon Musk’s $1 million voter giveaway can go ahead, judge says

A judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s $1 million voter donation can go ahead.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, sued Musk and his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, last week, arguing that the $1 million awards to registered voters in battleground states are “an illegal lottery scheme”.

Krasner asked that the daily giveaways be shut down, but Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta refused to do so after a day-long hearing Monday attended by Musk’s lawyers and prosecutors.

Foglietta did not immediately provide a reason for his decision, though no more gifts were planned in Pennsylvania. Musk did not attend Monday’s hearing.

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX pledged last month to give $1 million a day until Election Day.

According to the America PAC website, 16 people, including four from Pennsylvania, received the $1 million prizes. Winners were chosen at random from those who signed a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights.

The offer was limited to registered voters in one of the seven states likely to decide the outcome of the Nov. 5 election — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Musk donated the first million dollars at an America PAC rally on Oct. 19 in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania state capital.

The Justice Department warned Musk and America PAC last month that the sweepstakes could violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote.

Musk, 53, who also owns X, formerly Twitter, has poured his millions, time and considerable influence into supporting Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump since endorsing him in July.

Musk, the world’s richest man, reportedly donated at least $118 million to his political action committee, an organization that raises funds for elections.

He also appeared on stage with Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania and hosted a series of town halls on his own in the eastern state, considered critical in today’s election.

Musk, who previously supported Barack Obama but has become increasingly conservative in recent years, adds to his 202 million followers on X daily with messages supporting Trump and disparaging his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris .

The lawsuit over his donation said it should be stopped because it amounts to an illegal lottery that violates consumer protection laws by using misleading language.

DA Krasner said in a statement after the complaint was filed: “The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair business practices, including illegal lotteries.

“The prosecutor’s office is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections.”

Krasner’s office said Musk and America PAC have not published clear guidelines for gifts or said how they protect voters’ personal information.

He also said that the people receiving Musk’s money “are not actually chosen at random,” citing two winners who attended two pro-Trump rallies.

Musk has given nearly $120 million to the PAC so far, according to federal disclosures, making the group a key part of Trump’s bid to win back the White House.

The entrepreneur has increasingly supported Republican causes and this year became an outspoken Trump supporter.

For his part, Trump has said that if elected, he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.