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Elon Musk’s $1 Million Voter Lottery Lawsuit Returned to State Court

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A federal judge in Pennsylvania has sent back to state court a lawsuit against Elon Musk and his political action committee (PAC) regarding a controversial $1 million daily lottery for registered voters. The ruling came on Friday, following Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s request to halt the prize giveaways ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

Krasner’s office claims that Musk and his America PAC are running an illegal lottery designed to sway voters in the election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. They allege that the lottery violates state consumer protection laws and is aimed at influencing the electoral process.

The case was initially filed in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, but Musk’s team moved it to federal court, claiming jurisdiction due to its connection with the presidential election. However, U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert ruled that the lawsuit should be handled in state court, stating that the legal issues raised are rooted in state law, not federal law. “Federal question jurisdiction does not turn on a plaintiff’s motivations in filing suit; it turns on whether the legal issues arising from the claims originate in federal or state law,” Pappert wrote.

In response to the ruling, Krasner’s office noted that the judge’s decision reaffirmed their position that Musk’s attempt to shift the case to federal court was unlawful. The District Attorney is seeking a hearing on Monday to address his request for an injunction against the lottery.

Musk announced the lottery on October 19, stating that the America PAC would randomly award $1 million daily until Election Day to registered voters in seven swing states, including Pennsylvania, who signed a petition supporting the U.S. Constitution. The first winners of the lottery were reportedly from Pennsylvania.

Following Krasner’s lawsuit, Musk was ordered to appear for an emergency hearing in the state court, but his legal team had already filed to move the case to federal jurisdiction. After Musk did not attend the scheduled hearing, Judge Angelo Foglietta indicated that the case could not proceed in state court due to its removal to federal jurisdiction.

Musk’s attorney, Matthew Haverstick, subsequently filed a motion to quash the order requiring Musk’s appearance, arguing that the request was intended to “harass and oppress” Musk during a critical election period. Haverstick contended that the District Attorney’s actions were an unconstitutional attempt to limit Musk’s First Amendment rights.

 

Elon Musk Promises $1 Million a Day Giveaway to Petition Signers in Support of U.S. Constitution

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Billionaire Elon Musk made headlines on Saturday by pledging to give away $1 million each day until November’s U.S. election to someone who signs his petition in support of the U.S. Constitution. Musk kick-started this initiative by awarding a $1 million check to John Dreher, an attendee at an event in Pennsylvania meant to rally support for former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.

“By the way, John had no idea. So anyway, you’re welcome,” Musk quipped as he handed over the check to Dreher. This cash giveaway is the latest in a series of efforts by Musk to leverage his vast fortune to influence the highly contested presidential race between Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.

Musk’s political action committee (PAC), America PAC, which he founded in support of Trump, is focused on mobilizing voters in key battleground states. However, recent reports indicate that the PAC has faced challenges in reaching its registration goals. Musk has held three events in Pennsylvania over the last few days, urging supporters to vote early and motivate others to do the same. At Saturday’s event, he framed the upcoming election as critical, claiming that if Harris wins, it could be “the last election,” hinting at dire consequences for the future of the U.S.

During his speech, Musk referenced two assassination attempts on Trump, arguing that they demonstrate Trump’s disruptive influence on the political landscape, something he claims Harris is incapable of achieving. “Assassinating a puppet is worthless,” Musk remarked, reiterating a claim he made earlier on social media.

The petition, which Musk is encouraging people to sign, pledges support for the First and Second Amendments, affirming freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. Attendees at the Pennsylvania event were required to sign the petition, allowing America PAC to collect voter contact details as part of its effort to boost Trump’s voter turnout.

Musk, ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world, has contributed at least $75 million to America PAC, according to federal records, making it a key player in Trump’s bid for re-election. Musk, known for his ventures in Tesla and SpaceX, has increasingly aligned with Republican causes, emerging this year as a vocal Trump supporter. In response, Trump has stated that, if re-elected, he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.

 

Pro-Trump PAC Funded by Elon Musk Faces Struggles in Battleground States Ahead of Election

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The political action committee (PAC) funded by billionaire Elon Musk to help re-elect Donald Trump is facing significant challenges in key swing states, with reports of underperformance and claims of canvassers inflating voter contact numbers. The PAC, known as America PAC, is responsible for mobilizing voters in battleground states like Wisconsin and Nevada but is reportedly failing to meet its doorknocking goals, just weeks before the November 5 election.

Several individuals involved in the outreach efforts revealed that canvassers are being warned they are missing crucial voter contact targets. In Wisconsin, for instance, the group had set a goal of reaching 450,000 voters by Election Day, but field organizers recently admitted they are far behind. A recording of an October 8 meeting, reviewed by Reuters, captures a manager stating, “We’re not going to hit 450,000, not with what we’ve got now.”

Alysia McMillan, a former canvasser for the PAC in Wisconsin, voiced concerns that failing to meet these targets could cost Trump the election. McMillan, who was fired after a pay dispute but later rehired by another contractor, claimed, “If this isn’t looked into in a timely manner, this can result in a waste of time and money and risk President Trump winning the election.”

Similar issues have surfaced in other states. In Nevada, Chris Young, a close aide to Musk and a Republican operative, reportedly conducted an audit to investigate whether canvassers had inflated their reported doorknocking efforts. There are concerns that some workers had manipulated smartphone apps to falsify their locations, prompting firings.

Despite these challenges, a source close to the PAC’s operations disputed McMillan’s claims, stating that the group is on track to meet its targets. Audits and routine field checks are standard practice, they said, to ensure the canvassing efforts are progressing as planned.

America PAC’s outreach strategy centers on encouraging “low propensity voters”—those who are likely Trump supporters but may be reluctant to cast their votes—to turn out in large numbers. The group’s work is focused on key battleground states where even a slight shift in voter turnout could determine the outcome in a race that remains too close to call, with polls showing a tight contest between Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Musk, currently ranked as the world’s wealthiest individual, has provided at least $75 million to America PAC, according to federal filings. His financial backing is critical to Trump’s 2024 bid to return to the White House. Musk has publicly expressed his support for Trump, and Trump has indicated that he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if re-elected.

However, the campaign has been plagued by operational issues, particularly with retaining canvassers. Some canvassers have complained about low pay—starting as low as $20 per hour in some instances—and long hours, often with no reimbursement for travel expenses in remote areas. As a result, retention has been a persistent problem.

In Nevada, the audit led by Young has not yet yielded a public report, and it is unclear if any changes have been made to the canvassing operation. Text messages from managers at Lone Mountain Strategies, one of the contractors hired by the PAC, revealed concerns over canvassers caught cheating by falsifying their doorknocking efforts. “We’ve fired two people today and auditors are going around checking doors for flyers,” one message read.

As Election Day draws nearer, America PAC has ramped up its efforts to recruit more canvassers, advertising pay rates starting at $30 per hour with performance bonuses on its website.