Philadelphia District Attorney Sues Elon Musk Over $1 Million Handout To Voters In Swing States

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Philadelphia’s district attorney sued Elon Musk and his political action committee on Monday, alleging that giving away $1 million a day to registered voters in swing states who sign a petition is an “illegal lottery scheme.”

In a civil complaint, Larry Krasner, the Democratic district attorney in Pennsylvania’s largest city, said the scheme violates Pennsylvania’s lottery and consumer protection laws. According to the complaint, it “must be stopped immediately” ahead of the November 5 US presidential election, “because America Park and Musk have developed their illegal lottery scheme to influence voters in this election.”

Musk, the world’s richest man, has become an ardent supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. He said he would give away a $1 million daily bonus to a registered voter in a swing state who signed a petition in support of constitutional protections for free speech and the right to bear arms.

The political action committee is offering registered voters in Pennsylvania, which has become one of the fiercest battlegrounds between Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, $100 to provide personal information and sign a petition, and $100 for each registered voter in the statement that they refer to his signature. That’s more than Pac gives in other states, according to the complaint.

Musk’s America Pac awarded nine awards in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona. According to the complaint, Pac claims to have received more than 280,000 signatures on its petition in Pennsylvania alone.

But the complaint argued that the act of giving up personal information and signing a petition in exchange for a chance to win $1 million was clearly a “sweepstakes” — and under Pennsylvania law, sweepstakes must be regulated by the state.

Musk and America Pac did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit came after the Ministry of Justice in recent days forewarned America Pac believes the $1 million in prizes may violate federal law that prohibits paying individuals to register to vote.

Musk has become one of Trump’s biggest supporters and a vocal supporter, appearing with him at rallies, including at New York’s Madison Square Garden over the weekend, and pouring millions of dollars into the ex-president’s support.

Musk gave America Pac nearly $75 million during the third quarter, according to a federal filing. The group has spent more than $133 million, according to the independent nonprofit OpenSecrets.