Justice Department Warns Musk – $1 Million Giveaway May Be Illegal

Photo: Reuters/Brian Snyder

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The Justice Department has recently warned Elon Musk’s America PAC that its $1 million sweepstakes for registered voters in swing states may violate federal law, according to CNN. Musk, who is backing Donald Trump and investing millions in his campaign, launched the sweepstakes through his PAC, aiming to boost voter registration in key battleground states.

Concerns were raised immediately by election law experts and some state officials, as federal law prohibits offering payments for voter registration. The sweepstakes, which promises $1 million to randomly selected individuals who sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments, has drawn scrutiny because only registered voters in specific states can participate.

The Justice Department’s public integrity section, responsible for investigating election-related law violations, sent a letter to Musk’s PAC about the potential legal issues. Musk announced the sweepstakes at a Trump campaign event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, stating, “We are going to be awarding $1 million randomly to people who have signed the petition, every day, from now until the election.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed concern, calling for legal review of the giveaway, prompting Musk to criticize Shapiro’s remarks on his X platform. In response to accusations that the sweepstakes was intended to favor Republican registration, Musk clarified that winners could come from any political affiliation and weren’t required to vote, but he did not address the legality of limiting participation to registered voters.