A Philadelphia judge has mandated that Elon Musk and other involved parties appear in court on Thursday regarding a lawsuit aimed at halting a $1 million daily giveaway by Musk’s America PAC, which supports former President Donald Trump.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office filed the suit on Monday, claiming the political action committee’s cash prizes for registered U.S. voters in battleground states constitute an "illegal lottery," allegedly enticing Pennsylvania residents to share personal data in exchange for entries.
The court order, issued on Wednesday by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, moved the hearing to Thursday morning. America PAC, controlled by Musk, promised $1 million each day to individuals signing its online petition advocating for free-speech and gun rights.
"It is further ordered that all parties must be present at the time of the hearing," a judge wrote on Wednesday in an order with the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. The hearing in the case was moved up to Thursday morning from Friday.
A representative for America PAC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk's representatives have not responded to requests for comment. Legal experts consulted by Reuters last week were divided on whether the giveaway violates federal laws that make it a crime to pay or offer to pay a person to register to vote.
The Trump campaign, which leans heavily on external support for voter outreach, relies significantly on Musk’s high-profile PAC as it faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in what polling suggests will be a close race. Neither Musk nor representatives of America PAC have commented on the lawsuit.
The Justice Department recently sent a letter to America PAC, warning that the giveaways could be legally problematic if intended for registered voters signing the petition.
Reuters
