Elon Musk's political action committee (PAC), America PAC, has received judicial approval to continue its daily $1 million giveaway until Election Day.
According to Fox News, a Pennsylvania judge allowed America PAC to maintain its daily contest despite legality concerns.
Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta ruled in favor of America PAC on Monday, allowing the $1 million daily giveaway to proceed through to November 5, 2024. Both sides presented arguments in court, prompting a swift decision.
Judge Foglietta's decision countered the viewpoints of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who argued the contest's legality earlier the same day.
Krasner's stance was that the contest misrepresented a lottery and improperly harvested participants’ information for political campaigning in swing states.
District Attorney Larry Krasner criticized the execution of the contest, claiming it to be an exploitation of voter data under the guise of a sweepstakes. "This was all a political marketing masquerading as a lottery," Krasner stated in court. "They were scammed for their information. It has almost unlimited use."
Originally announced as a random sweepstakes by Elon Musk during a rally on October 19, 2024, the contest invited swing state voters to sign a petition for a chance to win the substantial cash prize.
However, Musk clarified in posts on social media platform X that the selection of winners is based on personal stories and conditions rather than random chance.
Chris Gober, representing America PAC, emphasized in court that the selection process predetermines the million-dollar giveaway recipients. "The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance. We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow," he explained. The campaign intends this strategic targeting to boost the visibility of free speech and gun rights issues in crucial electoral states.
The terms of the giveaway have seen multiple clarifications, notably by Musk himself, who took to social media to announce the promotional intent of the contest. "Every day, from now through Nov 5, @America PAC will be giving away $1M to someone in swing states who signed our petition to support free speech & the right to bear arms! We want to make sure everyone in swing states hears about this, and I suspect this will ensure they do," Musk's post detailed.
District Attorney Larry Krasner had emphasized the deceptive elements of the contest's marketing before the judge's ruling.
Despite these concerns, the court found no sufficient legal basis to halt the contest at this time, allowing America PAC to continue its planned daily awards until the upcoming election.
In conclusion, Elon Musk's America PAC will proceed with its $1 million daily giveaway following the recent legal victory. This controversial contest, initially framed as a random drawing but later revealed to be based on predetermined selections, has thus far withstood legal scrutiny from significant opposition. As Election Day approaches, the contest continues to stir debate about the intersection of political campaigning, voter engagement, and legal boundaries.
