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From 6ABC Action News: The $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes that Elon Musk’s political action committee is hosting in swing states can continue through Tuesday’s presidential election, a Pennsylvania judge ruled Monday in Philadelphia.
Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta – ruling after Musk’s lawyers said the winners are not chosen by chance – did not immediately give a reason for the ruling.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had called the sweepstakes a scam that violates state election law and asked that it be shut down.
The winners of the sweepstakes did not win by chance but are instead paid spokespeople for the group, Musk’s lawyers said in court Monday.
Musk lawyer Chris Gober said Monday, “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance. We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow.”
Musk’s lawyers said Krasner’s efforts to shut down the sweepstakes under Pennsylvania law are moot anyway, because the remaining winners are not from Pennsylvania.
The report also quotes America PAC director Chris Young as explaining that the lucky recipients are vetted in advance, to “feel out their personality, (and) make sure they were someone whose values aligned” with the group, and confirmed that the recipients have also signed nondisclosure agreements.
Law professor Jonathan Turley reacted:
Musk appears to have prevailed in the litigation in Philadelphia against Larry Krasner. He will be allowed to continue his promotion to get people to sign petitions to support the first and second amendment rights…
… As I stated earlier, I do not believe that Musk’s promotion violates federal law as paying for votes or registrations. Krasner seemed eager to pull Musk into court, but appears to have failed to convince the court. We are awaiting an order.
… As I stated earlier, I do not believe that Musk’s promotion violates federal law as paying for votes or registrations. Krasner seemed eager to pull Musk into court, but appears to have failed to convince the court. We are awaiting an order.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) November 4, 2024
…We have the footage of Musk bringing in his sweepstake promotion for a successful landing in Philadelphia:
…Note we only have the denial order. We are still awaiting the decision itself from the court.
…Note we only have the denial order. We are still awaiting the decision itself from the court.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) November 4, 2024
A Philadelphia judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s America PAC can continue its million-dollar giveaway to registered swing-state voters. https://t.co/vKCKoaE8zt pic.twitter.com/ldhLWgN30X
— ABC News (@ABC) November 4, 2024
A lawyer for Elon Musk ‘s political action committee told a Philadelphia judge Monday that so-called “winners” of his $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes are not chosen by chance but are instead chosen to be paid “spokespeople” for the group. https://t.co/xS8cCKEb8l
— WTAE-TV Pittsburgh (@WTAE) November 4, 2024
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