Musk ordered to testify in election lottery cases; one lawsuit may be narrowed
A judge ordered Elon Musk to testify in lawsuits related to his $1 million voter lottery in swing states. The ruling also indicated that one of the cases may be narrowed, narrowing the scope of claims against Musk's political action committee.
Background
- Elon Musk has been ordered to give sworn testimony (deposition) in lawsuits about his $1 million-a-day "election lottery" giveaway during the 2024 US presidential campaign.
- Musk's America PAC ran a daily $1 million prize for registered voters in swing states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. Critics called it an illegal "lottery" or vote-buying scheme.
- Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and at least one voter filed lawsuits arguing the giveaway violated federal election law and state gambling laws. The cases are ongoing.
- One of the voter lawsuits was partially narrowed (some claims dismissed) in the same order, but Musk must still testify in both cases. A judge ruled that a jury should decide key questions about whether the giveaway was a lottery or illegal inducement to vote.
- The legal question: whether paying people to register or vote — even via a "petition" — breaks laws designed to prevent corruption in elections.