Elon Musk’s political action committee, America PAC, has come under scrutiny for its $1 million voter sweepstakes, with recent statements revealing that the winners are not selected at random. During a court hearing in Philadelphia, lawyer Chris Gober, the former treasurer of the PAC, confirmed that recipients of the substantial cash prizes are deliberately chosen to serve as “spokespeople” for the pro-Trump initiative. This admission contradicts Musk’s earlier claims that the selection process was random.
The Philadelphia District Attorney, Larry Krasner, has filed a lawsuit against Musk and his PAC, alleging that the sweepstakes operates as an illegal lottery in violation of Pennsylvania state laws. The lawsuit contends that the winners are not selected by chance, pointing out that many of them are individuals who attended rallies in Pennsylvania. Krasner’s office argued that the promotional campaign misleads participants, as Musk asserted the selections were random.
In Gober’s testimony, he stated, “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance,” clarifying that the next two winners would be selected from Arizona and Michigan. This revelation raises concerns about the legitimacy of the contest, as it appears to validate Krasner’s assertion that the sweepstakes could be deemed illegal.
Musk initially announced the contest at a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in late October, claiming, “I have a surprise for you. We are going to be awarding $1 million to people who have signed the petition every day, from now until the election.” The petition, which promotes support for the First and Second Amendments, was initially limited to registered voters in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, but later expanded to include six additional states.
The language of the petition itself does not specify that winners will be chosen randomly. Instead, it states that each day, one signer from Pennsylvania or the six other states—Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, or North Carolina—will receive $1 million. Gober attempted to clarify Musk’s earlier statements, suggesting that the term “randomly” is interchangeable with “by chance.” However, Krasner’s attorney, John Summers, characterized Gober’s comments as a “flat-out admission of liability.”
As the contest continues, over one million people have signed the petition across the participating states. Krasner raised concerns regarding the potential misuse of the data collected from participants, emphasizing that individuals might feel scammed for their information, which could be exploited for various purposes.
The unfolding situation raises significant questions about the ethical implications of the PAC’s promotional tactics and the transparency of its selection process, as it navigates legal challenges and public scrutiny.