Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk is seeking to transfer a lawsuit regarding his $1 million voter giveaway into federal court, potentially avoiding a scheduled hearing in Philadelphia state court. Musk's legal team filed a 'motion of removal' in federal court, a move that typically halts the state case and places it under the jurisdiction of a federal judge, pending a decision on whether to remand the case back to state courts.
The lawsuit was originally filed by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner against Musk over a daily $1 million sweepstakes offered by Musk's pro-Trump super PAC, America PAC, to registered voters in battleground states. Musk's lawyers argue that the lawsuit, despite being framed as state-law claims of nuisance and consumer protection, is primarily aimed at preventing alleged interference in the upcoming Federal Presidential Election.
In their federal filings, Musk's legal team contends that the issues raised in Krasner's lawsuit involve significant questions of federal law falling within the exclusive purview of the federal court system. This maneuver by Musk is likely to delay the scheduled hearing in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, at least temporarily.
The spokesperson for Krasner's office did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the status of the planned court hearing in Philadelphia on Thursday morning.
