Elon Musk’s controversial daily $1 million handout to voters went ahead yesterday after he won a legal victory against Democrats who claim the lottery is illegal.
Pennsylvania District Attorney Larry Krasner, an elected Democrat, has charged Musk and his pro-Trump fundraising committee with violating lottery laws.
But Judge Angelo Foglietta moved the case to federal court, likely delaying it until after the election, allowing benefits to continue.
The decision marked a success for Mr Musk, who was told to stop the giveaways, and came even though he ignored the judge’s demand to attend the hearing. His refusal to attend risked a charge of contempt of court, but Judge Foglietta decided not to sanction him.
Musk has given $1 million checks to randomly selected people who sign a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights. Ostensibly open to all voters, the petition focuses on issues prioritized by Republicans.
Elon Musk awarded Kristine Fishell a check for $1 million. Musk has given $1 million checks to randomly selected people who sign a petition pledging support for free speech and gun rights
Musk, 53, who also owns
Musk, the richest man in the world, has reportedly donated $118 million to his political action committee, an organization that raises money for elections
The offer is limited to registered voters in one of the seven states that will likely determine the outcome of the election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Critics claim that the measure violates electoral law. The case brought by Mr. Krasner alleges that it is an “illegal lottery scheme to influence voters.”
Musk’s lawyer, Matthew Haverstick, said yesterday that Mr Musk is an extremely busy man who could not simply “materialize” in court, hours after the hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
Prosecutor John Summers said the owner of the rocket company SpaceX could easily show up if he were so inclined.
But the judge laughed in the courtroom when he responded: “Counsel, he’s not going to get in a rocket and land on the building.
“He’s not going to get on a rocket and take it to Philadelphia — let’s be serious.”
He moved the case to federal court after Musk’s lawyers argued that the case involves claims of federal election interference that can only be heard in a higher court.
Musk, 53, who also owns
Musk, the richest man in the world, has reportedly donated $118 million to his political action committee, an organization that raises money for elections.