On November 1, a US judge rejected Elon Musk’s request to transfer a Pennsylvania lawsuit related to his million-dollar prizes to voters to federal court, returning the case to a state court. It remains unclear whether this decision will affect the billionaire’s intention to continue giving away prizes until Tuesday’s US presidential election. The decision was made by US District Judge Gerald Pappert in the federal court in Philadelphia.
Musk has been issuing $1 million checks to randomly chosen registered voters who sign a petition defending free speech and gun rights. As of Friday, Musk’s political action committee, America PAC, had distributed $1 million in prizes to 14 people, with the final award scheduled for Tuesday. On Oct. 28, Philadelphia’s Democratic district attorney, Lawrence Krasner, filed a lawsuit against Musk and his political action committee, which supports Republican former President Donald Trump, in state court to stop the giveaway, labeling the program an illegal lottery.
Two days later, Tesla CEO Musk and his U.S. political action committee attempted to move the case to federal court, arguing that Krasner’s lawsuit involved issues of free speech and election interference that warranted federal jurisdiction. This prompted the state judge overseeing the case to temporarily pause proceedings. In response, Krasner argued that the case should remain in state court, describing Musk’s actions as an attempt to “run the clock until Election Day.” Krasner did not claim that the gift violated federal law.
For that reason, Krasner opined that the lawsuit should remain in the state court where Musk was simply trying to run down the clock to Election Day while simultaneously seeking to bring an end to the legal process before voters take to the polls. What he stated in that case was not the federal law against the gift, but rather bringing awareness to Musk’s action that had violated the state laws. This remains a notable issue of concern concerning the ongoing debate over campaign practices as well as the understanding of various election laws, especially in the run towards the election period coupled with difficulties occasioned by Musk’s gift.
