Philly’s DA accuses Elon Musk’s super PAC of ‘running an illegal lottery’ in new lawsuit

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is suing Elon Musk and his pro-Trump group America PAC in an attempt to stop the billionaire’s controversial $1 million giveaway to registered voters.

Krasner filed the suit on Monday, calling Musk’s efforts an “illegal lottery scheme.”

“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 lawsuit alleges. “That is a lottery.”

Musk and America PAC launched the daily $1 million giveaway on Oct. 19 for voters in certain swing states. They ask registered voters to share personal identifying information (such as a cell phone number and address) and to sign a petition pledging support for the Constitution and the right to bear arms. They are then eligible to be selected to “randomly” win $1 million. Fast Company reached out to the super PAC’s general Pennsylvania contact with a request for comment. Musk himself has defended the giveaway on his social media platform, X.

Krasner and his office argued in the lawsuit that all lotteries must be operated and administered by the state. They allege it also violates the state’s consumer protection laws by “deploying deceptive, vague or misleading statements that create a likelihood of confusion or misunderstanding.”

Musk has loaded several millions of dollars into America PAC, which was formed this spring in an effort to help the Trump campaign register and mobilize voters in battleground states. Official backers also include Joe Lonsdale and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. Musk appears to have engrained himself in the Trump campaign, twice now showing up to speak at the former president’s rallies and pushing anti-Kamala Harris rhetoric online.

The lawsuit is calling for Musk and his super PAC to stop the giveaways immediately.

“Running an illegal lottery and violating consumer protections is ample basis for an injunction and concluding that America PAC and Musk must be stopped, immediately, before the upcoming Presidential Election on November 5,” the complaint said.