Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has filed a lawsuit against tech mogul Elon Musk, alleging Musk’s America PAC violated Pennsylvania’s lottery laws by offering $1 million cash prizes to randomly selected registered voters who sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
According to the lawsuit, “America PAC and Musk are 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 $1 million. That is a lottery,” NBC News reported.
Krasner claims the initiative is “And it is indisputably an unlawful lottery. Under unambiguous Pennsylvania law, all lotteries in Pennsylvania must be regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” in the state.
Earlier this month, Musk introduced the petition with a payment structure offering $47 per referral for each registered swing-state voter who signed up.
On October 19, he increased the stakes, announcing a daily $1 million prize for a randomly chosen petition signer leading up to the election.
Musk emphasized that the petition was not an attempt to influence specific voting behavior but rather a way to rally public support for the Constitution, specifically freedoms related to speech and bearing arms.
The initiative quickly attracted legal scrutiny, with some questioning whether incentivizing voter registration with cash awards could be illegal.
Musk has defended the PAC’s approach, clarifying, “This is not a petition to vote or register for anyone in particular.
It’s a petition in support of the Constitution of the United States, especially regarding freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.”
The lawsuit comes amid escalating tensions between Musk and the Biden administration.
President Biden recently criticized Musk’s immigration status during his early years in the U.S., claiming he worked illegally on a student visa before officially securing work authorization.
“That wealthiest man in the world turned out to be an illegal worker here. No, I’m serious. He was supposed to be in school when he came on a student visa. He wasn’t in school. He was violating the law. And he’s talking about all these illegals coming our way?” Biden said at a Pittsburgh town hall according to the New York Post.
Musk, a vocal Trump supporter and advocate for stricter border policies, has faced increased political opposition as his companies and personal positions draw more attention.
The PAC lawsuit marks another chapter in the intensifying feud between Musk, Democratic leaders, and the Biden administration.
He has been headlining events in the White House race’s final stretch, often echoing Trump’s takes against immigration.
Trump has pledged to give Musk a role in his administration if he wins next month.