A Pennsylvania judge has set a hearing for Monday to determine the fate of Elon Musk's daily $1 million giveaway to voters. This decision comes as a victory for Musk, allowing his sweepstakes to continue at least until the eve of Election Day. Despite facing federal and legal scrutiny for the past two weeks, Musk has persisted in awarding cash prizes to registered voters in swing states.
On Friday, Musk's lawyers requested the judge to clarify that Musk does not need to attend future hearings. Judge Angelo Foglietta's order states that Monday's hearing will focus on halting the sweepstakes and Musk's request to avoid appearing in court.
Musk's legal team argued that the claims in the lawsuit are primarily against America PAC, with Musk's involvement being peripheral. They contended that Musk's testimony could be obtained through other means, such as a witness from America PAC.
Furthermore, Musk's attorneys criticized Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a progressive Democrat, for initiating the lawsuit. They claimed the lawsuit was politically motivated and aimed at stifling First Amendment rights and influencing the presidential election.
Earlier in the week, the Pennsylvania judge had instructed Musk to attend a hearing scheduled for Thursday. However, Musk attempted to transfer the case to federal court, leading to a brief hearing in Pennsylvania state court on Thursday that Musk did not attend.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a supporter of President Trump, has invested over $118 million to aid Trump's reelection campaign. The ongoing legal battle over the $1 million giveaway adds another layer of complexity to the already contentious election season.
