Elon Musk’s pro-Trump group, America PAC, claims its $1 million-a-day giveaway to registered voters is not a random lottery, but rather picks people who would be good spokespeople for its agenda. The billionaire’s lawyer, Chris Gober, testified in a Pennsylvania court hearing that the winners are chosen based on their potential to serve as representatives for the group.
The giveaway, which has given away $16 million so far, is seen by some as a gray area of election law. Critics argue that it could be violating federal laws against paying people to register to vote. Musk’s lawyer, Gober, disputed this claim, saying there is no prize to be won and winners must fulfill contractual obligations to serve as spokespeople for the PAC.
However, opponents say that America PAC is pre-selecting people based on their social media presence and meeting them in person, despite signing non-disclosure agreements. The group’s director, Chris Young, acknowledged selecting winners but claimed they could not reveal the truth about how they received the money due to confidentiality agreements.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s giveaway comes as the US presidential election approaches. America PAC is backing Republican former President Donald Trump, and the billionaire’s support has been a significant factor in the campaign.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/judge-weighs-challenge-elon-musks-1-million-voter-giveaway-2024-11-04