Photo source: FMT
Elon Musk’s political organisation is permitted to continue its practice of distributing USD $1 million to voters in pivotal swing states, as ruled by a judge.
Judge Angelo Foglietta from Pennsylvania did not provide an immediate explanation for his ruling, which came shortly after the court hearing.
The giveaway by Musk’s America PAC is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, with the final recipient already identified, according to a lawyer representing Musk during a court session on Monday.
In an unexpected revelation, the attorney disclosed that the recipients of the funds were not selected through a random lottery, as many had assumed, but were instead chosen by the organisation.
“The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance,” stated Chris Gober, Musk’s lawyer, during the hearing. “We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow,” he added.
Gober informed the court that America PAC has already determined that the final recipient will be a voter from Michigan, according to reports from US media outlets.
Musk’s Cash Incentive for Voters
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner had filed a lawsuit to halt what he described as an “illegal lottery” following Musk’s announcement of awarding USD $1 million daily to one voter in a swing state until Election Day.
“Every day until Election Day, a person who signs will be selected to earn $1 million as a spokesperson for America PAC,” the organisation stated in a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), which is owned by Musk.
However, when Musk initially introduced the giveaway last month, many believed it was intended as a random drawing for registered voters who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
“We are going to be awarding $1 million randomly to people who have signed the petition every day from now until the election,” Musk declared at a campaign event.
Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Department of Justice cautioned that this initiative might violate election laws prohibiting payments for voter registration. Subsequently, Krasner’s office filed a lawsuit seeking to terminate it.
Legal Scrutiny
Musk has been actively campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in key swing states across the nation, with his committee intensifying efforts in Pennsylvania, where polls indicate Trump is in a close race with his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
A representative from Krasner’s office remarked that Gober’s statements in court constituted “a complete admission of liability.”
During the hearing in which Musk was not present, prosecutors shared a video in which he mentioned that “all we ask” is for winners to act as spokespeople for America PAC. Chris Young, director of America PAC, testified that recipients undergo screening and must share values aligned with those of the group.
Recipients are required to sign non-disclosure agreements preventing them from publicly discussing their contracts’ terms.