Judge Rules Elon Musk’s PAC Can Continue $1M Voter Giveaways in Swing States

A judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s political group, America PAC, can continue its $1 million giveaway to voters in swing states, which is set to conclude on Tuesday.

The final recipient has already been identified, according to a lawyer representing Musk.

During a court hearing on Monday, it was revealed that the recipients of the funds were not chosen randomly as a lottery, as many had believed, but were instead selected by the PAC.

This disclosure came as Philadelphia District Attorney Lawrence Krasner sought to halt what he termed an “illegal lottery” after Musk announced his plans to award $1 million daily to a voter in a swing state until Election Day.

Judge Angelo Foglietta did not provide an immediate explanation for his ruling, which came shortly after the hearing, according to the Associated Press.

Chris Gober, Musk’s attorney, stated, “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance.” He confirmed that the final recipient would be a voter from Michigan. On Monday, the PAC announced that a man named Joshua from Arizona had received the day’s prize.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, which Musk owns, America PAC stated, “Every day until Election Day, a person who signs will be selected to earn $1 million as a spokesperson for America PAC.”

When Musk first announced the giveaway last month, many assumed it was a random drawing for registered voters who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. “We are going to be awarding $1 million randomly to people who have signed the petition, every day, from now until the election,” Musk declared at a campaign event.

However, a few days later, the U.S. Justice Department warned that the initiative might violate election laws prohibiting payments for voter registration, prompting Krasner’s office to file a lawsuit.

Musk has been actively campaigning for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in swing states, particularly Pennsylvania, where polls indicate a close race with Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris.

A lawyer from Krasner’s office argued that Gober’s statements in court constituted an “admission of liability.” Prosecutors presented a video in which Musk mentioned that “all we ask” is for the winners to serve as spokespersons for the group.

Chris Young, director of America PAC, explained that recipients are screened and must share the group’s values. Those who receive the funds must also sign non-disclosure agreements, preventing them from publicly discussing their contracts.

Musk did not attend the hearing. On the same day, Joe Rogan released a nearly three-hour podcast episode featuring Musk, promoting it with an endorsement for Trump. Rogan stated, “He [Musk] makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.”