Musk faces court hearing on Oct. 31 for illegal voter lottery (includes video story)

Billionaire Elon Musk, a well-known supporter of former President Donald Trump, is facing legal action over a multimillion-dollar giveaway intended for registered voters. Despite warnings from election experts and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that the lottery-style sweepstakes may violate federal election law, Musk has indicated that he will continue until Election Day.

Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, have distributed $11 million since the giveaway began on Oct. 19. To qualify, participants must be registered voters in one of seven swing states and sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit on Monday, alleging the program constitutes an “illegal lottery scheme” violating state lottery and consumer protection laws and claiming it is designed to “influence voters.”

Nearly half of the winners have been Pennsylvania residents, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Krasner’s lawsuit asserts that Pennsylvania law mandates the state to conduct all lotteries. His suit argues Musk’s giveaway does not meet these guidelines.

The case comes after Democratic Sens. Peter Welch and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging a review of Musk’s sweepstakes. They claimed that America PAC defied the DOJ’s advisory that the lottery could violate federal election laws.

Legal expert Louis Caldera says the DOJ will likely approach the suit cautiously.

“They have to be pretty convinced that there is a violation of law, that they can prove that violation of law, and that it would not in some way impact the election,” said Caldera.

The Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan government watchdog, also voiced concerns about the program.

“This is not how our democracy should work,” the center’s executive director Adav Noti said in a statement. “It is illegal to buy votes, it is illegal to buy voter registration, and the Department of Justice has the power to enforce these important laws through civil or criminal action.”

In response to the lawsuit, Musk shared a post on his social media platform X claiming Krasner, “knows it’s not illegal but wants a leftist judge to stop it before Election Day.”

The lawsuit’s hearing, initially scheduled for tomorrow, has been moved up to today in response to threats against Krasner. A Philadelphia judge ordered that all parties, including Musk and a representative from America PAC, attend City Hall for the hearing in court.

Samantha Gutierrez is a student journalist majoring in Digital Communication and Media. As a bilingual reporter, she enjoys covering stories about her diverse Miami community. With a strong passion for broadcasting, she aspires to pursue a career as a multimedia journalist in South Florida.