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A lawyer for Elon Musk defended his $1 million-a-day voter giveaway program in a Pennsylvania court, arguing that recipients are carefully selected as surrogates for Musk’s pro-Trump political action committee rather than chosen by random lottery.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Earlier this month, Elon Musk and his super PAC, America PAC, launched a daily million-dollar giveaway targeting registered voters in swing states. To participate, voters must provide personal information, including their address, phone number, and email, and sign a petition pledging support for the First and Second Amendments. The PAC claims that winners are selected randomly each day, with the initiative aimed at boosting voter engagement and rallying support for Republican candidate Donald Trump in the presidential election. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a civil lawsuit against Elon Musk and America PAC, seeking to halt the $1 million daily giveaways, arguing that they constitute an illegal lottery under Pennsylvania law, which requires state regulation for all lotteries.
Elon’s defense: During a hearing in Pennsylvania, Elon Musk’s lawyer, Chris Gober, argued that the daily $1 million giveaway organized by Musk’s America PAC does not constitute an illegal lottery because recipients are selected not by chance but for their potential to serve as effective spokespeople for the PAC’s agenda. Gober explained that each chosen individual signs a contract agreeing to promote the PAC’s views, notably on free speech and gun rights, which shifts their role from lottery winners to compensated representatives. He stressed that this structured selection process—based on personal stories and alignment with the PAC’s goals—distinguishes the initiative from a traditional lottery, aiming to promote political engagement rather than offering random prizes.
Another view: After the hearing, Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner and his office reiterated their stance that Elon Musk’s America PAC is running an unlawful and deceptive operation under the guise of a giveaway, alleging it exploits voters for their personal data. Krasner’s office expressed concern over what they view as a “complete admission of liability” by Musk’s lawyer, Chris Gober, who confirmed that winners were not chosen randomly as advertised.
John Summers, a lawyer from Krasner’s team, highlighted that Musk’s PAC had promised a fair, random process but instead pre-selected individuals, thereby betraying public trust. The district attorney’s office stated that this setup not only violates Pennsylvania’s lottery laws but also risks undermining the integrity of the electoral process, suggesting they may consider further legal action to protect voters.
