The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Elon Musk’s America PAC that his $1 million giveaway to registered voters who signed its petition supporting the First and Second Amendments may violate federal law.
Musk is giving away $1 million to random registered voters in battleground states who signed the petition every day until the election.
#BREAKING: The Department of Justice has sent and issued a warning letter to Elon Musk America PAC, citing concerns over potential legal violations tied to its $1 million voter lottery. pic.twitter.com/i86nOBrKFT
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) October 23, 2024
Per CNN:
Musk’s initial promise to pay prizes to registered voters immediately raised concerns from election law experts and some state officials who questioned whether it ran afoul of the law.
Federal law bars paying people to register to vote. The language of the petition currently promises $1 million prizes to people chosen at random for signing a petition in support of First and Second Amendment freedoms. But to sign the petition, you must be registered to vote in specific states.
A letter from the Justice Department’s public integrity section, which investigates potential election-related law violations, went to Musk’s political action committee, according to people briefed on the matter.
CNN has reached out seeking comment from Musk, several email addresses listed on the super PAC’s website, the group’s treasurer, and Musk’s press team at the X platform.
BREAKING: The Department of Justice has issued a letter to Elon Musk’s America PAC, warning that $1 million giveaway to registered voters in swing states might violate federal laws.
How can it be illegal to support the Constitution? pic.twitter.com/jHuwIwIc1r
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) October 23, 2024
“It’s not illegal. Just more election interference by @USDOJ trying to intimidate @elonmusk,” Robert Barnes commented.
It’s not illegal. Just more election interference by @USDOJ trying to intimidate @elonmusk https://t.co/E0pL6BWwCC
— Robert Barnes (@barnes_law) October 23, 2024
From The New York Times:
Similar warning letters from the department’s public integrity unit have been sent to businesses and organizations that tied promotions to voting and are intended to suggest that continuing such an activity could result in a criminal investigation.
The letters typically do not outline the department’s next steps and are intended to force the recipient to make changes to conform with the law.
A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. Mr. Musk, the super PAC and its lawyer did not offer a comment on Tuesday or Wednesday. The news was first reported by the 24Sight newsletter.
It is illegal to pay people to register to vote. The idea for Mr. Musk’s petition in support of the First and Second Amendments was novel, coming in part from one of Mr. Musk’s longtime executives who was advising the super PAC, called America PAC. But some campaign-finance lawyers and Democrats said they believed it overstepped by inducing people to register with the sweepstakes.
Three voters in Pennsylvania and one in North Carolina have been awarded $1 million checks, and Mr. Musk has promised to award one voter $1 million every day through Election Day as part of his efforts on behalf of former President Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign.
WATCH:
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!