In a high-stakes legal battle involving Elon Musk’s campaign efforts, a Pennsylvania judge ruled that Elon Elon Musk may continue his controversial cash giveaways for registered voters in swing states — for the time being. Musk, who has publicly supported Donald Trump’s re-election bid, has been offering $1 million prizes through his political group, America PAC, to voters in battleground states. The initiative, however, has sparked accusations of potential election law violations. Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner, who filed a lawsuit against Musk this week, argued that the cash giveaways threaten the fairness of the upcoming presidential election and demanded an immediate halt.
At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Judge Angelo Foglietta decided to pause the lawsuit while a federal court reviews whether to take on the case. Should the federal court decline jurisdiction, the matter will return to the Pennsylvania state court. “This is a case that involves state law issues,” stated John Summers, a lawyer representing Krasner, expressing his intention to seek remand back to the state court for further proceedings.
Cash Giveaways to Swing State Voters Raise Ethical Concerns
Through America PAC, Elon Musk has pledged to randomly award $1 million daily to registered voters in seven critical battleground states — Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina — up until November 5. His initiative is aimed at voters willing to sign a pledge of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and share personal information, including addresses and phone numbers. However, this effort has stirred ethical concerns and accusations of electoral manipulation. Krasner’s lawsuit alleges that Musk’s PAC is effectively “running an illegal lottery” and violating consumer protection laws by misleading citizens about the nature and implications of the cash giveaway.
Critics argue that the giveaways could unfairly influence voter behavior and potentially break federal election laws, which prohibit incentivizing voter registration. Legal experts note that the implications are complex, as the legality of such giveaways is a “grey area” in federal law. Musk, however, insists that his initiative does not require participants to register with a particular party or even cast a vote.
Elon Musk’s Legal Defense and Response to the Accusations
Elon Musk’s legal team has dismissed Krasner’s accusations, calling them a pretext to undermine Musk’s political efforts. In federal court filings, Elon Musk’s lawyers argued that the lawsuit is less about state consumer protections and more about preventing what Krasner’s team sees as interference with the presidential election. “The complaint’s focus is to prevent defendants’ purported ‘interference’ with the forthcoming federal presidential election by any means,” Musk’s lawyers wrote, downplaying any state-law violations.
Following the judge’s ruling, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the decision was a victory for “American Justice FTW (for the win),” signaling his satisfaction. Musk did not appear in court for the hearing. Despite the legal complications, the America PAC has continued to award prizes, with Dacey from Fremont, North Carolina, becoming the latest winner of the $1 million check on Thursday.
Growing Security Concerns Amid Online Harassment
The controversy has escalated tensions between Elon Musk and Krasner’s team, leading to heightened security concerns. Just a day before the hearing, Musk retweeted a post that insulted Krasner, which reportedly incited threats against the district attorney. Krasner’s legal team filed a request for enhanced security, noting that Musk’s retweet triggered “an avalanche” of antisemitic and hostile comments from Musk’s followers directed at Krasner.
The case has also attracted federal scrutiny, with the Department of Justice warning Elon Musk’s PAC that its lottery-style giveaways could infringe on federal election laws. Under current U.S. law, it is illegal to offer financial incentives to voters, and if Elon Musk is found guilty, he could face substantial penalties, including a $10,000 fine and up to five years in prison. As the case proceeds, it remains uncertain whether Musk’s giveaways will face further restrictions or potential shutdowns, but for now, the billionaire’s efforts continue in swing states nationwide.
