US court sues Elon Musk for offering prizes to voters

The Philadelphia Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a lawsuit on Monday against a political action committee led by billionaire Elon Musk, accusing it of promoting an “illegal lottery.” The committee, known as America PAC, is linked to former President Donald Trump and offered $1 million to registered voters in swing states for the Nov. 5 election.

The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court, argues that the offer constitutes a violation of state consumer protection laws by inducing Pennsylvanians to share their personal data in exchange for the chance to win prizes.

Lawrence Krasner, top prosecutor and representative of the state’s largest city, which is a Democratic stronghold, expressed concern about the practice’s potential impact on elections.

“If not prohibited, the lottery scheme will irreparably harm Philadelphians and others in Pennsylvania by tarnishing the public’s right to a free and fair election,” the complaint stated.

In response to the allegations, an America PAC spokesperson sent the press a link to the group’s latest publication on the X platform.

The post revealed a Michigan resident who had already received the $1 million prize, with the promise that more prizes would be distributed daily leading up to the election.

The situation becomes even more complex with the involvement of the Department of Justice, which last week warned the PAC that the prizes offered could violate federal laws.

The legislation in question prohibits paying or offering to pay to induce voter registration. CNN reported that legal experts are divided over the legality of the initiative.

This case comes at a critical time, given that Pennsylvania is one of seven swing states that will be decisive in the presidential contest between Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President, Kamala Harris. The result in Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral votes, is seen as crucial in an election that promises to be extremely close.

Trump’s campaign depends significantly on external groups to attract voters, highlighting the fundamental role of Musk’s super PAC, considered the richest man in the world, in this electoral context.

With information from Reuters