Elon Musk could face contempt of court after missing a required court hearing over claims his $1mn voter giveaway is illegal

Elon Musk is at risk of being charged with contempt of court after failing to appear today for an emergency hearing over the $1 million giveaway he organized for registered voters in swing states.

The Tesla and influence, less than a week before voting in person. starts.

But Musk, the world’s richest person, was not in court when the hearing started at 10 a.m. Thursday and could be fined if Judge Angelo Foglietta holds him in contempt of court.

According to published reports, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked the court for additional security for the hearing, saying social media users posted an “avalanche” of inflammatory messages, including anti-Semitic attacks on him, and that he posted his home address .

Musk, who is backing Republican candidate Donald Trump in the presidential election, is seeking to move the case to federal court, a delaying tactic that could allow him to continue his giveaway.

In a filing, the billionaire said Krasner’s lawsuit raises questions about free speech and election interference that belong in federal court.

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk presented Kristine Fishell with a $1 million check during the town hall at the Roxain Theater on October 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Krasner, who championed progressive causes when he ran for attorney general, has accused Musk and his political action committee America PAC of devising an “illegal lottery scheme to influence voters.”

Musk has given $1 million checks to randomly selected people who sign a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights.

The offer is limited to registered voters in one of the seven states that will likely determine the outcome of the Nov. 5 election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Musk gave away the first $1 million at an America PAC meeting on October 19 in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania.

Krasner’s Oct. 28 lawsuit says the giveaway should be stopped because it amounts to an illegal lottery that violates consumer protection laws by using misleading language.

Krasner said in a statement after filing the complaint last week: “The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair business practices, including illegal lotteries.

“The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections.”

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner awaits the start of the hearing in the City Hall courtroom Thursday morning

Krasner’s office said Musk and America PAC have not published clear rules for the giveaway and have not said how they will protect voters’ personal information.

He also said that people who receive Musk’s money are “not actually randomly chosen,” citing two winners who attended two pro-Trump rallies.

He also claimed that his lawsuit against Musk had caused “an avalanche of.” [social media] messages from Musk’s followers, many of whom “made anti-Semitic attacks on Krasner.”

In addition, Krasner’s home address was leaked onto the Internet after the filing of the charges.

Attorneys for Musk and America PAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Some legal experts have said Musk’s giveaway could also violate federal laws against paying people to vote or register to vote. Others say he’s in the clear because people only have to sign a petition to get in.

Krasner filed his lawsuit in state court and he does not claim the giveaway violates federal law.

The U.S. Department of Justice warned America PAC that the giveaway could violate federal law, according to media reports, but federal prosecutors have not taken any public action.

Experts have seriously questioned the legality of Musk’s lottery, which was seen on stage in Philadelphia

Musk, pictured in Pennsylvania, is now at risk of being held for contempt of court after failing to appear at today’s emergency court hearing in Philadelphia

Musk has given nearly $120 million to America PAC so far, according to federal disclosures, making the group a crucial part of Trump’s effort to win back the White House.

The entrepreneur increasingly supports Republican causes and became an outspoken supporter of Trump this year.

Trump, for his part, has said that if elected he would appoint Musk to head a government efficiency commission.

Voting law experts have seriously questioned the legality of Musk’s lottery.

Speak with CNN Derek Muller, a lecturer at Notre Dame Law School, said: “If you start limiting prizes or giveaways to only registered voters or only people who have voted, then it raises concerns about bribery.”

Mr. Muller warned that limiting the giveaway to only registered voters would make it seem like Musk is handing out money for voter registration.

The CNN contributor added that offering free money to already registered voters before the sweepstakes was announced would violate federal law.

Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner, seen outside Fox 29 Studios in Philadelphia, sued Musk for violating lottery and election laws

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk jumps on stage as he arrives to speak at a town hall event hosted by America PAC in support of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on October 18. 2024

However, he described that the offer to people who had not yet registered was “much more problematic” because it could be seen as a potential persuasion to register.

Mr. Müller said most states only criminalize paying people to vote and it is rare for prosecutors to prosecute cases of election bribery, especially as the Supreme Court continued to limit its scope of bribery statutes.

“The actions that we’re seeing… it’s quite clearly in violation of federal law. Actually, I don’t think this is a particularly tense situation,” Adav Noti, executive director of the Campaign Legal Center, told CBS News last week.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also questioned Musk’s giveaway.

“I think there are real questions about how he’s spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing not only into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. That is very concerning,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” last week.