Elon Musk sued over $1m voter giveawaysThe district attorney’s office in Philadelphia filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to shut down billionaire Elon Musk’s controversial $1m giveaways to voters in Pennsylvania and other swing states, calling the gimmick “an illegal lottery”.
The move by Larry Krasner, the city’s DA, follows warnings from the justice department that the handouts by the prominent Trump acolyte, and founder of Tesla and SpaceX, might violate federal election laws.
Elon Musk speaks during a rally for Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York, on Sunday. Photograph: Carlos Barría/ReutersHis lawsuit names Musk, and his political action committee America Pac, as the defendants.
“America PAC and Elon Musk are running an illegal lottery in Philadelphia (as well as throughout Pennsylvania),” Krasner said in a statement.
They were, he added: “lulling Philadelphia citizens – and others in the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming election) – to give up their personal identifying information and make a political pledge in exchange for the chance to win $1m. That is a lottery.”
South Africa-born Musk announced earlier this month he would give away $1m each day until election day to someone who signs his online petition supporting the US constitution. Numerous people have received money, according to reports.
The Guardian’s Oliver Laughland attended a “surreal” rally in Pittsburgh last weekend at which a Pennsylvania voter, Kristine Fishell, was unveiled as an early winner.
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