Philadelphia prosecutor sues Elon Musk group to stop $1m lottery for voters
Top prosecutor says giveaway by Musk’s America PAC is illegal and entices residents to share personal data
28 October 2024 - 20:44
byLuc Cohen
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Elon Musk speaks at Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, the US, October 27 2024. Picture: REUTERS/ANDREW KELLY
Bengaluru — The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to stop a political action committee controlled by billionaire Elon Musk from awarding $1 million to registered US voters in battleground states ahead of the November 5 election.
The complaint brought by the top prosecutor in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, called the giveaway by Musk’s America PAC, which backs Republican former President Donald Trump, an “illegal lottery” that enticed Pennsylvania residents to share personal data.
Lawrence Krasner, the top prosecutor in Pennsylvania’s largest city, which is a Democratic stronghold, alleged the giveaways violated state consumer protection laws.
“If not enjoined, their lottery scheme will irreparably harm Philadelphians — and others in Pennsylvania — and tarnish the public’s right to a free and fair election,” the complaint read.
In response to a request for comment, an America PAC spokesperson sent a link to the group’s latest post on X, which was published after news of the lawsuit.
The post identified a Michigan resident who received the $1m prize, and said additional awards would be handed out every day until the election.
Pennsylvania is one of seven battleground states where the presidential election between Trump and vice-president Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is set to be decided. Whichever candidate wins the state will receive its 19 electoral votes out of a total of 270 needed to win.
The justice department has sent a letter to America PAC warning that the billionaire Tesla CEO’s giveaways for registered voters who sign his free-speech and gun-rights petition may violate federal law, CNN reported last week.
Legal experts consulted were divided on whether the giveaway violates federal laws that make it a crime to pay or offer to pay a person to register to vote.
The Trump campaign is broadly reliant on outside groups for canvassing voters, meaning the super PAC founded by Musk — the world’s richest man — plays an outsize role in what is expected to be a razor-thin election.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Philadelphia prosecutor sues Elon Musk group to stop $1m lottery for voters
Top prosecutor says giveaway by Musk’s America PAC is illegal and entices residents to share personal data
Bengaluru — The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to stop a political action committee controlled by billionaire Elon Musk from awarding $1 million to registered US voters in battleground states ahead of the November 5 election.
The complaint brought by the top prosecutor in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, called the giveaway by Musk’s America PAC, which backs Republican former President Donald Trump, an “illegal lottery” that enticed Pennsylvania residents to share personal data.
Lawrence Krasner, the top prosecutor in Pennsylvania’s largest city, which is a Democratic stronghold, alleged the giveaways violated state consumer protection laws.
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“If not enjoined, their lottery scheme will irreparably harm Philadelphians — and others in Pennsylvania — and tarnish the public’s right to a free and fair election,” the complaint read.
In response to a request for comment, an America PAC spokesperson sent a link to the group’s latest post on X, which was published after news of the lawsuit.
The post identified a Michigan resident who received the $1m prize, and said additional awards would be handed out every day until the election.
Pennsylvania is one of seven battleground states where the presidential election between Trump and vice-president Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is set to be decided. Whichever candidate wins the state will receive its 19 electoral votes out of a total of 270 needed to win.
The justice department has sent a letter to America PAC warning that the billionaire Tesla CEO’s giveaways for registered voters who sign his free-speech and gun-rights petition may violate federal law, CNN reported last week.
Legal experts consulted were divided on whether the giveaway violates federal laws that make it a crime to pay or offer to pay a person to register to vote.
The Trump campaign is broadly reliant on outside groups for canvassing voters, meaning the super PAC founded by Musk — the world’s richest man — plays an outsize role in what is expected to be a razor-thin election.
Reuters
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