Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaway to registered voters who signed his Super PAC’s petition supporting the First and Second Amendments is “deeply concerning.”
“It’s something that law enforcement could take a look at,” Shapiro said when asked about the legality of Musk’s giveaway.
WATCH:
WATCH: Every day until Election Day, Elon Musk says he’ll give $1M to a voter who has signed his super PAC’s petition “in favor of free speech and the right to bear arms.”@JoshShapiroPA: “That is deeply concerning. … It’s something that law enforcement could take a look at.” pic.twitter.com/2mZY1b5YaL
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 20, 2024
During his town hall event in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, Musk announced he would give away $1 million to random registered voters in the state who signed the petition every day until the election.
“Elon Musk announces that he will be randomly awarding $1 MILLION every day from now until Election Day to registered Pennsylvania voters who sign America PAC’s petition and surprised a member of the audience as the first winner,” America PAC wrote.
“I have a surprise for you. We’re going to be awarding a million dollars randomly to people who have signed the petition, everyday from now until the election,” Musk said.
“How do we get people to know about this petition? Because the legacy media is not willing to report on it. Not everyone’s on X. So I figure, how do we get people to know about it? Well this news, I think, is going to really fly,” he continued.
Musk announced the first winner Saturday night.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Elon Musk announces that he will be randomly awarding $1 MILLION every day from now until Election Day to registered Pennsylvania voters who sign America PAC’s petition and surprised a member of the audience as the first winner.
SIGN: https://t.co/PgHAgrlTFA pic.twitter.com/qd4ZRNe4z4
— America (@america) October 20, 2024
Per Fox Business:
The petition Musk announced at Harrisburg on Saturday reads: “The First and Second Amendment guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First And Second Amendments.”
The first million-dollar award was given to John Dreher, a self-described “big fan” of Musk.
Federal Elections Commission (FEC) filings show Musk was the sole donor of the America PAC, making around $75 million in contributions between July and September. In that time span, the PAC spent around $72 million, according to disclosures.
Josh Shapiro says Elon Musk’s plan to award $1 million to Pennsylvania voters who sign his petition is “deeply concerning” https://t.co/KKpHLB8lgG
— The Hill (@thehill) October 21, 2024
“Every night, @America will announce another $1M winner! All you have to do is sign our petition in support of The Constitution,” Musk said.
Every night, @America will announce another $1M winner!
All you have to do is sign our petition in support of The Constitution. https://t.co/Zsda5ao2In
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2024
“All you need to do is sign the @America petition in support of the Constitutional rights to free speech & bear arms to have a daily chance of winning $1,000,000! You can be from any or no political party and you don’t even have to vote,” Musk commented.
All you need to do is sign the @America petition in support of the Constitutional rights to free speech & bear arms to have a daily chance of winning $1,000,000!
You can be from any or no political party and you don’t even have to vote. https://t.co/vF93mBnBJd
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 20, 2024
From POLITICO:
The giveaway has already sparked some speculation into the legality and ethics concerns. Rick Hasen, writer for the Election Law blog and director of UCLA School of Law, said in a post on X that he believes this is an illegal action.
“Though maybe some of the other things Musk was doing were of murky legality, this one is clearly illegal,” Hasen wrote in a blog, before listing the specific laws that this giveaway breaks. “I’d like to hear if there’s anyone who thinks this is not a clear case of a violation.”
Making a million dollar prize contingent on registering to vote is illegal. See 52 USC 10307(c) https://t.co/8hnQS6lqYV Also, with PA registration soon closing for this election it may not accomplish what Musk wants. https://t.co/i9E61TkGJo
— Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) October 20, 2024
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