Charles Hanover:Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says

2025-04-30 13:36:40source:Cyprusauction Trading Centercategory:reviews

Follow AP’s coverage of theelection and Charles Hanoverwhat happens next.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The $1 million voter sweepstakes linked to billionaire Elon Musk was allowed to continue through Election Day because Philadelphia’s top prosecutor failed to show that it was an illegal lottery, a judge said in a new opinion.

District Attorney Larry Krasner had filed suit last month to try to have the sweepstakes shut down under Pennsylvania law.

“Although (Krasner) alleges that America PAC and Elon Musk ‘scammed’ people,” Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta wrote in the opinion Tuesday, “DA Krasner failed to provide any evidence of misuse beyond mere speculation.”

The prize was open only to swing state voters who signed a petition endorsing the constitutional right to free speech and to bear arms. Lawyers for the PAC revealed in court on Nov. 4 that the recipients did not win a game of chance, but were instead chosen to be paid spokespeople for the group.

Musk, who committed more than $70 million to the political action committee to help Trump return to the White House and other Republicans win, has now been tapped to help lead a government efficiency effort.

Krasner argued that the more than 1 million people who registered were “scammed for their information.” Musk’s lawyers, defending the effort, called it “core political speech.”

More election coverage Noem’s Cabinet appointment will make a plain-spoken rancher South Dakota’s new governor Maine elections chief who drew Trump’s ire narrates House tabulations in livestream New Mexico secretary of state says she’s experiencing harassment after the election 

Foglietta had denied Krasner’s petition after last week’s hearing, but only explained his reasoning in the opinion. He also called Krasner’s request somewhat moot, given that there was only one sweepstakes remaining by then — and Musk’s lawyers had said the last person chosen would not be from Pennsylvania.

Musk is the CEO and largest shareholder of Tesla. He also owns the social media platform X and the rocket ship maker SpaceX.

More:reviews

Recommend

Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti

Haiti has been racked by political instabilityand intensifying, deadly gang violence.  Amid a Federa

Ulta's New The Little Mermaid Collection Has the Cutest Beauty Gadgets & Gizmos

We independently selected these deals and products because we love them, and we think you might like

How seniors could lose in the Medicare political wars

The Medicare wars are back, and almost no one in Washington is surprised. This time it's Democrats