Judge Allows Elon Musk’s S1 Million Daily Sweepstakes to Continue Amid Election Controversy
A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that the $1 million-per-day sweepstakes hosted by Elon Musk’s political action committee (PAC) can continue through the upcoming presidential election, despite allegations from local authorities that it violates state election laws. The decision was issued on Monday by Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta following arguments that the sweepstakes winners are not chosen by chance.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had requested an injunction to stop the sweepstakes, calling it a “scam” aimed at influencing the election. However, Musk’s lawyers defended the initiative, explaining that recipients of the daily prize were pre-selected, not randomly chosen, and were in fact acting as spokespeople for Musk’s America PAC.
“The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance,” Musk’s lawyer, Chris Gober, clarified. “We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow.” According to Gober, the final two recipients will be presented in Arizona on Monday and Michigan on Tuesday.
America PAC Director Chris Young testified that each recipient was carefully vetted to ensure their values aligned with the organisation. However, the court also heard that recipients were required to sign nondisclosure agreements, prompting Krasner’s lawyer, John Summers, to question the transparency of the process. “They couldn’t really reveal the truth about how they got the money, right?” Summers asked, to which Young responded, “Sounds right.”
The case raised concerns after social media posts from Musk suggested that petition signers had a “daily chance of winning $1M!” Krasner argued that terms like “chance” and “randomly” misleadingly implied a lottery. Musk’s PAC, however, described the sweepstakes as “core political speech,” where entrants sign a petition supporting free speech and the right to bear arms.
Krasner also warned that the PAC may retain registrant data beyond the election, potentially using it for political purposes. “They were scammed for their information,” he asserted, noting how critical such data could be for future outreach.
With just one day until the election, the court ruling allows Musk’s PAC to continue the sweepstakes in key swing states. Pennsylvania, a major battleground with 19 electoral votes, remains a focus for both parties, with both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris scheduled to visit the state.
Musk, who did not attend the hearing, has committed over $70 million to the PAC to support Republican candidates. Further legal action remains possible, as Krasner has suggested he may consider criminal charges or civil penalties under Pennsylvania’s lottery and election integrity laws. Cash Scarcity Disrupts Daily Life and Business in Kano State
