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Judge Upholds Elon Musk's $1M Voter Sweepstakes Amid Controversy

Published November 05, 2024
3 months ago

Amidst controversies and accusations of attempting to manipulate voter behavior, a Pennsylvania court has upheld the legality of a $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes spearheaded by the political group established by tech mogul Elon Musk. The decision has garnered national attention, especially with the United States gearing up for the pivotal 2024 election.





Elon Musk, renowned for his business acumen in companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, and currently the wealthiest individual in the world, made headlines last month when he unveiled the sweepstakes initiative aimed at voters in seven key battleground states. These states are deemed crucial in swinging the outcome of the next presidential election. Musk's initiative is seen as a stratagem to bolster support for the Republican party, and in particular, the former President Donald Trump, to whom Musk has publicly lent his support and significant financial backing.


Controversy erupted when revelations surfaced that winners of the giveaway were not selected at random but were handpicked to best represent the super PAC's mission. This contradicted earlier claims by Musk where he promised a lottery-based selection process. The intricacies of the dispute were laid bare during a dramatic court session overseen by Judge Angelo Foglietta of the Pennsylvania's Common Pleas Court.


Chris Gober, Musk’s legal representative, highlighted the announcement of the final two recipients in the states of Arizona and Michigan, thereby unveiling the strategic timeline of Musk's influence efforts. Gober's candid confession that these recipients were preselected sparked further discussion about the ethical implications of such an exercise.


Arguments in court revolved around the nature of America PAC’s operation, the PAC founded by Musk and recipient of his $75m donation. Chris Young, who serves as director and treasurer of the PAC, testified to vetting contestants to ensure that they aligned closely with the political group’s conservative values. This proactive selection method raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the process.


Despite the scrutiny and criticism from figures like District Attorney Larry Krasner - who denounced the scheme as a "scam" designed to sway national election outcomes and lamented the potential misuse of personal data - Judge Foglietta’s ruling permitted the continuation of Musk's sweepstakes. Defenders of the giveaway framed it as “core political speech”, alluding to the requirement for entrants to endorse the US Constitution through the signing of a petition.


With over a million registrants from critical states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan, the sweepstakes has undeniably tapped into a significant pool of Americans. It highlights the intersection of digital data collection, political campaigning, and the legal boundaries of such activities in a pre-election landscape.


District Attorney Krasner’s concern over the long-term utility of participants' data collected by the PAC adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding saga. As the story continues to develop, it is sure to stir further public and legal discourse around the ethics of political fundraising and the ever-evolving tactics used within it.


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