PHILADELPHIA: A Pennsylvania judge declined on Monday (Nov 4) to halt billionaire Elon Musk’s US$1 million giveaways to registered voters in United States election battleground states.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, sued Musk and his pro-Trump political action committee, America PAC, last week, calling the US$1 million awards “an illegal lottery scheme”.
Krasner had asked that the daily giveaways be shut down, but Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta declined to do so after a daylong hearing on Monday featuring Musk’s lawyers and prosecutors.
Foglietta did not immediately provide a reason for his decision, though no more giveaways were planned in Pennsylvania.
Musk did not attend Monday’s hearing.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO promised last month to give away US$1 million daily until Election Day. According to the America PAC website, 16 people, including four in Pennsylvania, have received the US$1 million awards so far.
The Justice Department warned Musk and his America PAC last month that the sweepstakes may violate federal law, which prohibits paying people to register to vote.
Source: CNA
