Pennsylvania Judge Pauses Legal Challenge to Elon Musk’s $1M-a-Day Voter Sweepstakes

A Philadelphia judge held a brief hearing on Thursday regarding the city prosecutor’s attempt to halt Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day sweepstakes in key battleground states. The sweepstakes, organized by Musk’s political group, aims to support Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Musk’s lawyers filed a motion late Wednesday to transfer the case to federal court, arguing it involves a federal election issue. Despite this, state judge Angelo Foglietta proceeded with the hearing at City Hall.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge paused the state case while Musk seeks to move it to federal court. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner aims to argue that the matter should be resolved in state court.

Krasner’s lawyers accused Musk and the America PAC of continuing the lottery daily, including this morning, despite efforts to shut it down. Krasner, a Democrat, filed the lawsuit on Monday to stop the America PAC sweepstakes, which is open to registered voters in battleground states who sign a petition supporting the Constitution and is set to run through Election Day.

Election law experts are questioning whether this violates federal laws that prohibit paying individuals to vote. Musk has described the money as both a prize and compensation for serving as a spokesperson for the group.