A Pennsylvania state judge has allowed Elon Musk's ambitious $1 million-a-day voter giveaway to move forward, despite legal challenges from Philadelphia's top prosecutor. The decision comes just a day before the highly anticipated U.S. presidential election between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.
Elon Musk's America PAC, a pro-Trump political action committee, has been distributing funds to swing state voters who qualify by signing a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. To date, Musk has already donated $16 million to registered voters through this initiative.
On Monday, America PAC announced a winner from Arizona and is set to reveal the final recipient from Michigan on Election Day. The contest, launched on October 19, targets voters in seven key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit on October 28, arguing that the giveaway constitutes an illegal lottery due to its vaguely defined rules. Krasner also intends to seek financial penalties if the contest proceeds.
In response, Pennsylvania Judge Angelo Foglietta dismissed Krasner's lawsuit in a brief written order, stating he would provide detailed reasoning later. Andy Taylor, Musk's lawyer, criticized Krasner's actions, claiming they aim to restrict Pennsylvanians' rights to express free speech and support the right to bear arms.
Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump this year, has leveraged his social media platform X to promote the former president extensively. America PAC has already received nearly $120 million in contributions from Musk to bolster its voter mobilization and registration efforts, as disclosed in federal filings.
With Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes on the line, the outcome of this giveaway could play a pivotal role in determining the 270 votes needed for a presidential victory.
Reference(s):
Pennsylvania judge allows Elon Musk's $1 million voter giveaway
cgtn.com
