Elon Musk’s lawyer defends daily $1 million payments to voters
SUMMARY
During a court hearing on November 4, 2024, in Philadelphia, Elon Musk's lawyer defended the legality of Musk’s $1 million daily giveaway to voters, claiming the payments represent a “salary” rather than illegal lottery payouts. The contest, announced in October and promoted by Musk's America PAC, offers $1 million to one registered voter each day for signing a pledge supporting the First and Second Amendments. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a lawsuit against Musk last week, asserting the promotion violates Pennsylvania’s laws prohibiting illegal lotteries. Judge Angelo Foglietta acknowledged that any court ruling may have limited impact since the promotion ends on Election Day, November 5, 2024. Musk’s lawyer, Matt Haverstick, argued that winners are chosen based on their advocacy potential, not by chance. The contest has distributed approximately $17 million to voters across seven swing states, with the latest recipient reported from Arizona.
