Musk’s pro-Trump PAC clears legal challenge on $1 million-a-day contest as the U.S. election nears a tense close.
In a high-stakes ruling, a Pennsylvania judge on Monday gave the green light for Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter engagement giveaway to proceed in key swing states. With the U.S. presidential election just a day away and polls showing a close race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, Judge Angelo Foglietta dismissed legal challenges that had sought to label the giveaway an “illegal lottery.”
The voter engagement contest, organized by Musk’s pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, had come under fire after Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit on October 28. Krasner argued the giveaway violated state laws, describing it as an unfair lottery aimed at influencing voter turnout in battleground states. His lawsuit requested the Pennsylvania courts to immediately halt the program and impose financial penalties on America PAC.
At the center of the legal dispute was Musk’s promise to distribute $1 million daily to voters in states deemed crucial for either party’s electoral success. America PAC required participants to sign a petition in support of free speech and gun rights, raising questions about the criteria for selecting winners. Musk’s public statements claimed winners would be chosen randomly, but on Monday, a surprising revelation emerged: an aide to Musk acknowledged that winners were selected based on alignment with America PAC’s pro-Trump stance.
Despite the controversy, Judge Foglietta ruled in favor of America PAC, allowing the daily prize distribution to continue. In his brief written order, he deferred a full explanation of his decision to a later date, dismissing Krasner’s request for an immediate injunction.
“Mr. Musk’s actions represent a defense of Pennsylvanians’ freedom to express their political beliefs,” argued Andy Taylor, Musk’s attorney. “The District Attorney’s attempts to block this initiative are an infringement on Pennsylvanians’ rights.”
Since the campaign’s launch on October 19, Musk has awarded $16 million to voters across seven battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. America PAC, in a Monday press statement, revealed the latest winner from Arizona, with the final prize distribution slated for Michigan on Election Day.
Krasner, a Democrat, argued that the contest’s vague rules and selective criteria should disqualify it as a legitimate voter engagement campaign. However, supporters of the initiative claim it encourages political involvement. America PAC director Chris Young defended the campaign, stating that the selection process was guided by principles aligning with America PAC’s values, although this seemed at odds with Musk’s initial assurance of randomness.
With the ruling secured, America PAC is now set to announce its final winner tomorrow, on Election Day, bringing its total prize distribution to $17 million. As political tensions intensify, the impact of Musk’s initiative on voter turnout remains a topic of debate among analysts on both sides of the aisle.
