A judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s political group, America PAC, can continue awarding $1 million to voters in swing states, despite a lawsuit claiming the initiative is an illegal lottery.
The final recipient has already been chosen, according to a lawyer representing Musk.
Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner had sought to halt what he described as an “illegal lottery,” arguing that the selection process was misleading.
The judge, Angelo Foglietta, did not provide a reason for his ruling, which was issued shortly after a court hearing on Monday.
During the hearing, lawyer Chris Gober revealed that the recipients of the $1 million were not selected randomly as many assumed, but were predetermined by America PAC.
He stated, “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance,” and noted that a voter from Michigan had already been chosen as the final recipient.
On the same day, America PAC announced that a man named Joshua from Arizona had received the day’s award.
The group clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that each winner is chosen as a spokesperson for America PAC, contradicting Musk’s earlier claim that the awards would be given randomly to registered voters who signed a petition supporting constitutional amendments.
The U.S. Justice Department had previously warned America PAC that their activities might violate election laws that prohibit paying individuals to register to vote.
Following this, Krasner’s office filed a lawsuit to stop the initiative.
Musk has been actively campaigning for Republican candidate Donald Trump in swing states, particularly in Pennsylvania, where polls show a tight race against Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris.
A lawyer for Krasner’s office indicated that Gober’s statements in court could be seen as an admission of liability.
During the hearing, prosecutors presented a video of Musk stating that the winners are expected to serve as spokespeople for the organization.
Chris Young, director of America PAC, added that recipients are screened to ensure their values align with the group and that they sign non-disclosure agreements prohibiting discussion of their contracts.
Musk did not attend the hearing.
Meanwhile, Joe Rogan released a new podcast episode featuring a lengthy interview with Musk, in which Rogan indicated he would endorse Trump, stating, “He [Musk] makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.”
Source-BBC
