The Philadelphia district attorney 's office filed a lawsuit on Monday to prevent a political action committee led by billionaire Elon Musk from giving $1 million to registered US voters in key battleground states before the November 5 election .
The complaint, filed by the top prosecutor in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, alleged that the giveaway by Musk 's America PAC , which supports Republican former President Donald Trump , constituted an "illegal lottery" that encouraged Pennsylvania residents to disclose personal information.
Lawrence Krasner, the chief prosecutor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city and a Democratic stronghold, claimed that the giveaways violated state consumer protection laws. "If not enjoined, their lottery scheme will irreparably harm Philadelphians – and others in Pennsylvanians – and tarnish the public's right to a free and fair election," the complaint read.
In response to a request for comment, an America PAC spokesperson provided a link to the group's latest post on X, published after news of the lawsuit broke. The post revealed a Michigan resident as the recipient of the $1 million prize and stated that additional awards would be distributed daily until the election.
Pennsylvania is one of seven crucial battleground states that will determine the outcome of the presidential election between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris , a Democrat. The candidate who secures the state's 19 electoral votes out of the 270 needed to win will emerge victorious.
According to a CNN report last week, the Justice Department has sent a letter to America PAC cautioning that the billionaire Tesla CEO's giveaways for registered voters who sign his free-speech and gun-rights petition may violate federal law.
Legal experts consulted by Reuters last week had differing opinions on whether the giveaway violates federal laws that criminalise paying or offering to pay someone to register to vote.
The Trump campaign heavily relies on outside groups for voter canvassing, which means that the super PAC established by Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, plays a significant role in what is anticipated to be an extremely close election.
The complaint, filed by the top prosecutor in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, alleged that the giveaway by Musk 's America PAC , which supports Republican former President Donald Trump , constituted an "illegal lottery" that encouraged Pennsylvania residents to disclose personal information.
Lawrence Krasner, the chief prosecutor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city and a Democratic stronghold, claimed that the giveaways violated state consumer protection laws. "If not enjoined, their lottery scheme will irreparably harm Philadelphians – and others in Pennsylvanians – and tarnish the public's right to a free and fair election," the complaint read.
In response to a request for comment, an America PAC spokesperson provided a link to the group's latest post on X, published after news of the lawsuit broke. The post revealed a Michigan resident as the recipient of the $1 million prize and stated that additional awards would be distributed daily until the election.
Pennsylvania is one of seven crucial battleground states that will determine the outcome of the presidential election between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris , a Democrat. The candidate who secures the state's 19 electoral votes out of the 270 needed to win will emerge victorious.
According to a CNN report last week, the Justice Department has sent a letter to America PAC cautioning that the billionaire Tesla CEO's giveaways for registered voters who sign his free-speech and gun-rights petition may violate federal law.
Legal experts consulted by Reuters last week had differing opinions on whether the giveaway violates federal laws that criminalise paying or offering to pay someone to register to vote.
The Trump campaign heavily relies on outside groups for voter canvassing, which means that the super PAC established by Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, plays a significant role in what is anticipated to be an extremely close election.
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