Philadelphia district attorney sues Elon Musk over gifting $1 million to registered voters: NPR

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk presented Kristine Fishell with a $1 million check on October 20. The legality of these cash prizes has been questioned.

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On Monday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner asked a state judge to stop Elon Musk's $1 million donation to registered voters, calling the scheme “indisputably an unlawful lottery.”

Krasner filed suit against Musk and his political action committee America Pac.

“America PAC and Elon Musk operate an illegal lottery in Philadelphia (as well as throughout Pennsylvania),” the lawsuit states.

“In other words, America PAC and Musk are luring citizens of Philadelphia – and others in the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming election) – to give up their personal identification information and make a political pledge in exchange for the chance to win a dollar to win.” million. It’s a lottery.”

Musk announced the cash prize to Pennsylvania voters earlier this month during a campaign speech in support of former President Donald Trump.

“I have a surprise for you,” Musk said just before pulling out a huge check. “We will award $1 million to people who signed the petition every day from now until the election.”

Almost immediately, the promise of a cash prize caught the attention of voting rights experts, who warned that it violates federal law to incentivize a person to vote.

“If you look at the conditions, you have to be a registered voter,” says Richard Hasen, a professor of election law at UCLA said NPR. “So this is essentially a lottery that is only open to people who register to vote. So it's either an incentive for someone to vote or it's a reward. And either way it violates federal law.”

Several people in key swing states have reportedly already won the cash prize by signing the petition, which purports to support the constitutional promises of free speech and the right to bear arms.

Musk has emerged as perhaps one of Trump's most powerful allies in his second attempt to return to the White House.

The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX boss, considered the world's richest man, founded America PAC this summer as a sole donor with a $75 million cash infusion.

Trump faces a tight election campaign against the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Both candidates are vying for votes in critical swing states in the eight days until Election Day. Polls show that the two candidates are in a near dead heat.