--- title: "Philadelphia DA Sues Elon Musk for Paying Voters" description: "Philly's district attorney is accusing Elon Musk and his political action committee (PAC) of illegally influencing voters." date: "2024-10-28" modified: "2024-10-28" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/philadelphia-da-sues-elon-musk" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "donald trump" - "elon musk" - "politics" - "the digest" --- # Philadelphia DA Sues Elon Musk for Paying Voters ![Philly's district attorney is accusing Elon Musk and his political action committee (PAC) of illegally influencing voters.]() *\Image: Samuel Corum via Getty\* ## The Giving Tree Philly's district attorney is accusing Elon Musk and his political action committee (PAC) of illegally influencing voters with the pro-Trump billionaire's [$1 million daily giveaway](). In a [lawsuit filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court](), DA Larry Krasner said that the state's laws are "unambiguous" when it comes to registering lotteries — and that Musk's America PAC giveaway violates those laws. "America PAC and Musk are lulling Philadelphia citizens — and others in the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming election) — to give up their personal identifying information and make a political pledge in exchange for the chance to win $1 million," the complaint claims. "That is a lottery." Beginning earlier this month, the billionaire and his PAC have been offering voters in swing states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina the chance to win $1 million by [signing their petition](). Despite [initially pausing]() after a warning by the US Justice Department last week, Musk [subsequently restarted the cash payments]() selected at random — and has seemingly favored Pennsylvanians, who are also [getting $100 apiece]() just for signing the petition. ## Injunction Junction A regular [punching bag for the Pennsylvania GOP]() due to his progressive and [anti-carceral stances](), Krasner is seeking to halt the allegedly illegal contest. "The Pennsylvania General Assembly has declared that illegal lotteries are a public 'nuisance,'" the suit continues, "and empowered law enforcement officers such as DA Krasner to seek an injunction in court to stop them." Thus far, the giveaway has given away $9 million and plans to keep going up until Election Day with the campaign Krasner and many other detractors consider an illegal electioneering scheme. "America PAC and Musk must be stopped, immediately, before the upcoming Presidential Election on Nov. 5,” the lawsuit claims. "That is because America PAC and Musk hatched their illegal lottery scheme to influence voters in that election." Prior to this suit being filed, the multi-hyphenate billionaire took to the social network he owns to defend the contest. "To be clear, this is not a petition to vote for or register for anyone," he said during an [X Spaces discussion on Friday](). "It’s really a petition in support of the Constitution of the United States, and in particular, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms." With [legal experts divided]() about [whether this scheme is illegal]() — and the billionaire himself [seeming to refuse compliance]() with the DOJ — it's unclear whether Krasner's injunction will make any difference with the election just a week away. **More on Musk's politics:** [*Evidence Grows That Elon Musk Was an Illegal Immigrant Before Deciding He Hated Immigrants*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()