A U.S. judge On Friday denied Elon Musk's attempt to move a Pennsylvania lawsuit challenging his $1 million voter prize initiative to federal court, ordering the case to return to state jurisdiction. The decision by U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert could impact Musk's plan to continue awarding cash prizes through Election Day.
The lawsuit, filed on October 28 by Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner, argues that Musk’s America PAC voter prize program constitutes an illegal lottery. Musk’s PAC, which supports former President Donald Trump, has been awarding $1 million checks to randomly selected registered voters who sign a petition advocating for free speech and gun rights. As of Friday, 14 individuals had received the prize, with a final giveaway scheduled for Tuesday.
Musk's legal team attempted to move the case to federal court, citing free-speech and election interference concerns. However, Krasner opposed the transfer, suggesting it was a strategy to delay proceedings until Election Day. Legal experts remain divided on whether the program could infringe federal laws prohibiting monetary incentives for voter registration, though federal prosecutors have yet to take action.
Musk gave away the first $1 million at an Oct. 19 America PAC rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital.
The giveaway falls in a gray area of election law, and legal experts are divided on whether Musk could be violating federal laws against paying people to register to vote.
The U.S. Department of Justice warned America PAC the giveaway could violate federal law, according to media reports, but federal prosecutors have not taken any public action.
Musk has so far given nearly $120 million to America PAC, according to federal disclosures.
(Reuters)
