The Justice Department has issued a warning to Elon Musk's America PAC regarding a $1 million sweepstakes aimed at registered voters in swing states. The sweepstakes, designed to boost voter registrations in key battleground states, has raised concerns over potential violations of federal law.
Musk, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been actively backing Trump's candidacy and promoting the $1 million prize through his political action committee. However, the promise of cash prizes to registered voters has sparked legal scrutiny.
Under federal law, it is prohibited to pay individuals to register to vote. While the sweepstakes initially required signing a petition in support of First and Second Amendment freedoms to be eligible for the prize, the petition signers must also be registered voters in specific states.
The Justice Department's public integrity section, responsible for investigating election-related law violations, sent a letter to Musk's PAC addressing the potential legal issues surrounding the sweepstakes.
In response to criticism from election law experts and state officials, Musk clarified that the prizes were open to individuals of any political affiliation and that voting was not a requirement to participate. However, concerns remain over the requirement for petition signers to be registered voters in select states.
Following the scrutiny, Musk's PAC reframed the messaging around the giveaway, portraying the $1 million prize as payment for a spokesperson role within the America PAC. Despite the shift in messaging, the eligibility criteria for winning the prize remained unchanged, limiting the pool to registered voters in specific states.
While Musk has not publicly addressed the Justice Department's letter or any potential changes to the sweepstakes, the situation continues to draw attention and legal scrutiny.
