Billionaire Elon Musk has made headlines by pledging to give away $1 million each day until Election Day to individuals who sign a petition supporting the U.S. Constitution. However, this move has drawn scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department, which has warned that Musk’s daily giveaways may violate federal law.
According to reports from CNN and The New York Times, a letter from the Justice Department’s public integrity section, which investigates potential election-related violations, has been sent to Musk’s Super PAC. As of now, neither the Justice Department nor Musk’s America PAC has responded to requests for comment regarding the situation.
Musk, who hails from South Africa and has endorsed Donald Trump ahead of the November 5 election, made this announcement during a recent event in Pennsylvania. During the weekend, he bestowed $1 million checks to two individuals: one in Harrisburg on Saturday and another in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Additionally, a voter from North Carolina also received a $1 million check. While campaigning for the Republican presidential candidate, Musk took to social media to congratulate the winners and encourage registered voters in swing states to participate in the lottery by signing his petition.
Election law experts have raised concerns about the legality of this sweepstakes, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro calling for an investigation by law enforcement. Musk, recognized by Forbes as the richest person in the world, has reportedly contributed at least $75 million to America PAC, positioning the group as a critical player in Trump’s campaign to reclaim the presidency.
Musk’s level of engagement in Trump’s campaign has been notable, not just because of his financial contributions but also due to his active participation in rallies, where he has been seen energetically supporting the candidate. He has also taken to social media, using his platform on X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris and disseminate what some analysts deem misinformation regarding the election to his 202 million followers.
Observers of Musk’s campaign behavior have pointed out a lack of discretion in his political engagement, a marked deviation from the conduct typically expected of ultra-wealthy individuals. His actions suggest a strong desire for attention and influence in the political arena.
It’s worth noting that Musk has previously faced legal and financial consequences for his unconventional approaches. In 2018, he and Tesla agreed to pay $40 million in fines due to a tweet announcing plans to take Tesla public at $420 a share. Musk later commented that he did not regret the tweet, deeming the fines “worth it.”
