The district attorney of Philadelphia said Monday that he has filed a lawsuit to halt Elon Musk ‘s $1 million giveaways as part of his political organization’s effort boosting Donald Trump ‘s presidential campaign.
The suit by Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner is the first legal action to be brought over the America PAC’s sweepstakes offering $1 million every day until Nov. 5 to a person in a battleground state who has signed a petition supporting the Constitution.
Krasner’s office said the lawsuit, coming just over a week before Election Day, doesn’t preclude potential criminal action.
“The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries. The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections,” Krasner’s office said in a statement published on its website.
A spokesperson for the billionaire tech mogul’s America PAC, emailed for comment on the lawsuit and asked if the cash awards would continue, responded with a link to an X post, which showed the latest $1 million winner holding an oversized check.
Krasner’s office didn’t immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit, including whether it compels Musk to immediately stop the giveaway or whether the dispute can be resolved before Election Day.
Reflecting the state’s importance in the election, both Harris and Trump have made numerous recent visits to Pennsylvania, including Trump’s photo op at a suburban Philadelphia McDonald’s and Harris’ Sunday visit in the city that included stops at a church and a barbershop.
Speaking in Delaware after casting his ballot Monday, President Joe Biden called the giveaway “totally inappropriate.”
Some attending Musk’s events have a different view.
Michele Costantino, 64, a retired health care administrator from Elverson, Pennsylvania, said she thought the giveaway was a “good idea.”
“I think he’s playing the same game as the other side,” said Costantino, standing outside Musk’s rally Saturday in Lancaster. “If you need to flash some big money to get people’s attention, I think it’s a good idea.”
She noted Musk is not running for office himself. “I never heard him say, ‘Here, I’ll give you a million dollars if you vote,’” Costantino said.
Musk’s giveaway requires entrants to sign a petition backing the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution and calls for them to serve as spokespeople for the organization as a condition of winning.