---
title: "Elon Musk Sued Over $1 Million Election Giveaway in Philadelphia"
description: "Elon Musk was sued by the Philadelphia district attorney over his political action committee’s $1 million a day sweepstakes targeting swing state voters in the final days of the US presidential election."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-28-elon-musk-sued-over-1-million-election-giveaway-in-philadelphia/"
published: "2024-10-28T18:05:52"
updated: "2024-10-28T18:05:53"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 234
---

# Elon Musk Sued Over $1 Million Election Giveaway in Philadelphia

> Elon Musk was sued by the Philadelphia district attorney over his political action committee’s $1 million a day sweepstakes targeting swing state voters in the final days of the US presidential election.

By Bloomberg · Published 28 October 2024, 20:05 SAST · Updated 28 October 2024, 20:05 SAST

## Key points
- In a legal twist worthy of a courtroom drama, Philadelphia's DA is calling foul on Elon Musk's $1 million "free speech lottery," claiming it’s less about civic engagement and more about an unlawful money grab that could leave citizens' personal info hanging out to dry.
- DA Larry Krasner files lawsuit against Elon Musk, claiming his $1 million giveaway is an "unlawful lottery" that exploits Philadelphia citizens.
- The legal challenge marks Musk's first official confrontation over the controversial program, which has raised eyebrows among legal experts.
- Musk's pro-Trump America PAC has been awarding $1 million daily to petition signers advocating for free speech and gun rights, with winners required to be registered voters.
- Krasner argues the contest breaches state lottery and consumer protection laws, as Musk's PAC has already distributed checks to nine winners, four residing in Pennsylvania.

## Content

The DA, Larry Krasner, is asking a state court to stop Musk from engaging in an “unlawful lottery,” which lulls “Philadelphia citizens to give up their personal identifying information and make a political pledge in exchange for the chance to win $1 million.”

The civil lawsuit is the first official legal challenge that Musk has faced over the program. Legal experts have questioned the lawfulness of the effort since it was announced, and last week the US Department of Justice sent Musks’s PAC a letter warning that it might violate federal law.

Musk’s pro-Trump America PAC had been giving away $1 million every day until Election Day on Nov. 5 to a randomly selected signatory of a petition calling for free speech and the right to bear arms. The winner must be a registered voter. The contest doesn’t specify which candidate voters should cast their ballots for.

After the lawsuit was filed, a spokesman for the PAC pointed to a social-media [post](https://x.com/america/status/1850902543905202551?s=46&t=oLLYguk0KrVulmN4P-fS7A) highlighting that the giveaway is continuing. An email to Musk’s lawyer wasn’t immediately returned.

Krasner says that the giveaway violates state lottery and consumer protection laws. Since launching the sweepstakes, Musk’s PAC has given $1 million checks to nine people, four of whom live in Pennsylvania, according to the lawsuit.

The case is Commenwealth of Pennsylvania by District Attorney Lawrence Krasner v. America PAC and Elon Musk, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.