Philadelphia Sues Elon Musk over $1 Million Giveaway

Philadelphia DA Elon Musk

Philadelphia DA Elon Musk
Elon Musk interviewed by Chris Anderson at TED2017 – The Future You, April 24-28, 2017, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Photo: Bret Hartman / TED via Flickr

The Philadelphia District Attorney (DA) sued Elon Musk for his controversial $1 million PAC giveaway, calling it an “illegal lottery scheme.” Democrat Larry Krasner filed a civil lawsuit against Musk’s America PAC.

The lawsuit alleges that “America PAC and Musk are lulling Philadelphia citizens  and others in the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming election) to give up their personal identifying information and make a political pledge in exchange for the chance to win $1 million.”

Essentially, the lawsuit states that Musk’s America PAC is a lottery, and is “indisputably” an illegal one. America PAC and Elon Musk have not commented on the suit, and have instead announced Monday’s winner of the giveaway, who was a voter from Hastings, Michigan.

The Philadelphia DA argues all lotteries in Pennsylvania should be run by the state, making Elon Musk’s lottery illegal

One of the main arguments presented by Krasner’s office is that state law requires all lotteries in the state to be managed by the state. According to the suit Elon Musk’s giveaway should be stopped because it operates outside of state law.

Additionally, the Philadelphia DA has also argued in the lawsuit that Musk’s lottery rules are deceptive. This is because according to the lawsuit filed by Krasner, says that despite Musk’s giveaway saying the winners are chosen at random, the claim seems to be false because they have chosen “multiple people” who have assisted to Donald Trump rallies.

Crucially, however, this is not a vote-buying case. Instead, this case is supported by Pennsylvania’s lottery and consumer protection laws. Elon Musk, however, has been warned by the United States Justice Department that his America Pac $1 million giveaway might be in violation of federal laws that criminalize offering money for voter registration.

The 2024 U.S. presidential election is approaching and Pennsylvania will be one of the key players

Elon Musk has heavily campaigned for former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania during late October. He has spent the later weeks of this election working the state because whoever wins it, will win 19 crucial electoral votes from 270.

Musk most notably spoke at a Town Hall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on October 26. He has posted several statements saying that the state will more than likely go to Trump during this election.

According to a post he made on his website, X, Musk stated “New Republican voter registration last week in Pennsylvania absolutely crushed Democrat voter registration! 27.7k Rep vs 12.7k Dem, a 3X difference.”

He also said that based on the early vote, Pennsylvania will go Republican, but warns they cannot get complacent.

Whilst it is undeniable that Musk has focused his campaigning efforts in the state of Pennsylvania, it is unclear whether or not the state of Pennsylvania will go Republican, Now, the world awaits a new President of the United States to be chosen on November 5.





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