PHILADELPHIA — During a hearing in Philadelphia on Monday, an attorney representing Elon Musk’s political action committee explained that the recipients of a $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes are not selected randomly. Instead, they are intended to serve as “spokespeople” for America PAC, the organization behind the initiative.
Attorney Chris Gober, representing the committee, outlined that the winners selected on Monday and Tuesday would be individuals from Arizona and Michigan, implying that this would not impact the electoral process in Pennsylvania. He emphasized that the selection of recipients is based on their personal narratives, and they enter into contracts with the PAC. “The recipients of the $1 million are not chosen by chance,” Gober stated in court. “We know exactly who will be revealed as the $1 million winner today and tomorrow.”
Musk was absent from the court proceedings, which occurred one day before the presidential election. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner took the stand, characterizing the sweepstakes as a deceptive scheme and urged the judge to terminate it. The aim of the lottery is to bolster Donald Trump’s presidential aspirations. Krasner noted that 18 prizes had already been disclosed.
Attorneys for Musk and America PAC confirmed in court that they do not intend to prolong the lottery beyond Tuesday, although Krasner expressed concern, declaring it an illegal lottery under Pennsylvania statutes. He pointed out the absence of published guidelines or privacy policies regarding the data collected from voters who register to participate in the sweepstakes. “Participants were tricked into providing their personal information,” Krasner asserted. “Such information can be utilized in nearly unlimited ways.”
Krasner’s representative, John Summers, claimed that Musk plays a vital role in America PAC and is actively involved in announcing winners and distributing prizes. “He is the one handing out checks, even if they are oversized cardboard representations. We cannot confirm if any real checks exist,” Summers remarked.
The case was overseen by Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta at Philadelphia City Hall, following the failure of Musk and the PAC to shift the proceedings to federal court. Krasner has indicated the possibility of pursuing criminal charges, stating he is responsible for maintaining the integrity of both lotteries and elections. In the ongoing lawsuit, he accused the defendants of “indisputably violating” Pennsylvania’s lottery laws.
Within the larger context of the electoral race, Pennsylvania remains a significant battleground state with its 19 electoral votes. Both Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris have made multiple campaign stops in the state, including some scheduled for Monday’s final hours of the election campaign.