The U.S Justice Department has warned billionaire Elon Musk America PAC that it may be violating federal law by offering swing state voters $1 million if they sign a petition, CNN reports, as Musk has spent millions trying to help elect former President Donald Trump.
DOJ’s public integrity division sent a letter to America PAC “in recent days” warning the PAC’s giveaway randomly selecting voters to receive $1 million may violate federal law, according to CNN, citing anonymous sources.
The PAC—which federal filings show is being funded almost entirely by Musk—is giving away $1 million each day to voters in swing states who sign a petition “pledging [their] support for the First and Second Amendments,” after previously pledging $47 for every voter someone refers to sign the petition.
Legal experts have raised widespread concerns about Musk’s giveaway potential violating federal law, which states the government will prosecute anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting,” and the DOJ has confirmed that includes “lottery chances.”
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Since Musk’s giveaway is only open to registered voters in swing states, experts believe it would violate the law by providing a financial incentive for Americans to register to vote.
Violations of the law are punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to five years in prison.
DOJ, America PAC and Musk have not yet responded to requests for comment.
How America PAC will respond to the DOJ’s reported warning and if it will end the sweepstakes. The PAC has reframed some of its wording on the giveaway as experts have raised concerns with its legality, claiming in a social media post that winners of the giveaway are being given the $1 million as payment for being a “spokesperson” for the PAC, and posting videos of the $1 million winners. Legal experts cited by CNN noted that doesn’t make the operation legal, however, given the PAC still hasn’t opened the giveaway up to people who aren’t registered voters or live outside major swing states.
Reported by CNN
