PHILADELPHIA — A hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning in Philadelphia as city prosecutors seek to put an end to Elon Musk’s controversial sweepstakes that offers a $1 million prize each day in crucial battleground states. These giveaways are organized by Musk’s political action committee, which aims to support Donald Trump’s campaign for the presidency.
Philadelphia’s District Attorney, Larry Krasner, a Democrat, initiated legal action on Monday against the America PAC sweepstakes, which is intended to continue until Election Day. Judge Angelo Foglietta will conduct the hearing in a courtroom located at City Hall.
Matthew Haverstick, one of several attorneys representing the defendants, opted not to disclose whether Musk would be present at the hearing when asked late Wednesday.
The sweepstakes is available to individuals in battleground states who sign a petition endorsing the Constitution. Krasner has mentioned that he may contemplate pursuing criminal charges, emphasizing his responsibility to guard the community against unlawful lotteries and potential threats to the integrity of elections.
Legal experts specializing in election law have expressed concerns regarding the sweepstakes potentially infringing on federal regulations that prohibit monetary incentives for voting. Musk has characterized the funds as both a reward and payment for serving as a spokesperson for the organization.
In his legal filing, Krasner stated that both America PAC and Musk are “undeniably violating Pennsylvania’s legal restrictions against illegal lotteries and misleading consumers.”
As Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes remain contested, both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have made numerous campaign appearances in the state.
Musk, known for founding companies such as SpaceX and Tesla and owning the platform X, has pledged his full support for Trump in this election cycle, asserting that the future of civilization hangs in the balance should Trump fail. Musk is playing a significant role in the effort to mobilize voters for Trump through his super PAC, which has the capacity to collect and disburse unlimited funds.
To bolster Trump and other Republican candidates ahead of the November elections, he has already allocated over $70 million to the super PAC.