The Philadelphia district attorney’s office has filed a lawsuit to halt Elon Musk’s million-dollar giveaways as part of his political organization’s effort to boost Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The lawsuit comes just over a week before election day and seeks to halt the giveaways, which have been ongoing since mid-October. According to the district attorney’s office, the giveaways violate state and federal laws, including those prohibiting illegal lotteries and interference with the integrity of elections.
The lawsuit claims that the giveaways, which require entrants to sign a petition backing the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution and to serve as spokespeople for the organization as a condition of winning, are a violations of federal election laws. The issue, according to election law experts, is that winning the award requires contestants to be registered to vote in one of a handful of battleground states, which could be interpreted as a payment to vote or register to vote, which is illegal.
The Philadelphia district attorney, Larry Krasner, characterized the million-dollar prize as a “lottery” and argued that it is more heavily regulated than if it were a prize or work-related. His office is seeking to halt the giveaways immediately, but it is unclear whether the dispute can be resolved before election day.
Elon Musk appears at an event (Via Randy Simmon/Shutterstock)
Elon Musk‘s spokesperson has not commented on the lawsuit, but it appears that the giveaways will continue. In a tweet, Musk wrote, “Vote for Trump! Win $1m!” and shared a link to the America PAC’s website, which continues to take entries in the sweepstakes.
The lawsuit is not the first controversy surrounding the giveaways. In early October, the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, arguing that the giveaways violate federal election laws and mislead voters.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about the potential for further interference with the election. By requiring entrants to sign a petition backing the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution, the giveaways may be viewed as a political manipulation of the electoral process. Additionally, the fact that the giveaways are being conducted by a wealthy celebrity, like Elon Musk, may be seen as an effort to sway public opinion and influence the outcome of the election.
The controversy surrounding the giveaways comes as both major parties are scrambling to mobilize their base in the final weeks of the campaign. The outcome of the election is uncertain, and the competing economic and social policies of the two major parties could have significant consequences for the country.
