Thursday, October 24, 2024 - Billionaire Elon Musk’s political action committee (PAC), America PAC, has been cautioned by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its $1 million daily giveaways to registered voters, U.S. media reported on Wednesday.
The DOJ's warning stems from concerns that Musk's
sweepstakes, which offers $1 million to one registered voter in a swing state
each day until the November 5 presidential election, may breach federal laws.
Federal regulations prohibit offering payments to individuals as an incentive
to register to vote.
Musk, the world’s richest man and a vocal supporter of
Donald Trump, announced the contest on Saturday in Pennsylvania, a key swing
state expected to influence the outcome of the presidential race between Trump
and Kamala Harris.
According to reports from CNN and 24sight News, the DOJ sent
a letter to Musk’s PAC indicating the potential legal violation. Although the
winners of the contest are selected at random, they must be registered voters
and are required to sign a petition supporting “free speech and the right to
bear arms.”
Danielle Lang, a professor specializing in election law at
Georgetown Law School, noted that this type of contest could face "civil
or criminal enforcement" from the DOJ, as offering money on the condition
of voter registration contravenes federal law.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk has ramped up his political
activity in recent weeks, donating $75 million to a pro-Trump PAC and attending
campaign rallies in support of the former president.
The Justice Department has so far declined to comment on the
matter.
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