By The Justice Department has issued a warning to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s America PAC regarding its controversial $1 million daily giveaway program, suggesting the voter incentive scheme in battleground states may violate federal election laws, sources familiar with the matter confirmed Wednesday.
The warning letter, first reported by CNN, originated from the department’s Public Integrity Section, which oversees election-related prosecutions. The intervention follows mounting pressure from former prosecutors and government officials who on Monday formally requested a Justice Department investigation into the lottery program.
The contest, announced by Musk during a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania town hall last Saturday, requires participants to meet specific criteria: registration as a voter in one of seven swing states, signing a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments, and serving as a “spokesperson for the petition.” Several winners have already appeared in videos supporting former President Donald Trump, whom Musk has endorsed.
The giveaway targets voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. “Our goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms,” the contest website states.
Legal experts remain divided on the program’s legality. “I can see what people are saying when they argue this violates the law, but I don’t think it does,” said Matthew Sanderson, an election law expert and NBC News consultant who has worked with Republican campaigns. The primary legal concern centers on federal prohibitions against paying people to register to vote.
A source close to America PAC defended the initiative, stating, “The PAC is confident in the legality of this initiative.” The organization has already named four winners since the program’s launch.
Musk, who heads Tesla and SpaceX and ranks as the world’s wealthiest individual with a net worth of $240 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, has actively promoted the contest while appearing at Pennsylvania voter registration events. During these appearances, he has consistently praised Trump while repeating various conspiracy theories.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the warning letter or potential further action. The PAC’s treasurer has not responded to requests for comment regarding the department’s concerns.
Source: nbcnews.com
