Elon Musk‘s political action committee can continue to hold $1 million per day voter contests through the presidential election on Tuesday., a judge ruled, according to the AP.
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Angelo Foglietta did not immediately explain his reasoning, according to the AP.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed the civil action and argued that the sweepstakes giveaway was an illegal lottery. He has said that his lawsuit was an effort to protect “the public from interference with the integrity of elections.”
The judge’s ruling came after an all-day hearing, where attorneys for Musk’s America PAC were present but not Musk himself. The billionaire owner of X has been campaigning for Trump in the critical swing state.
At the hearing, according to the AP, one of Musk’s attorneys said that the winners are not chosen by chance. Instead, the $1 million is payment to those selected for serving as a spokesperson for the super PAC.
Musk had said at a campaign event last month that the $1 million would be awarded “randomly” to those who signed a petition in support of the First and Second Amendments.
The sweepstakes also has reportedly drawn the attention of the Justice Department. Federal law prohibits payment or offers of payment for registering to vote or to vote.
Dustin Slaughter, spokesperson for Krasner, said in a statement, “A lot of truth came out of court today, and it was jaw-dropping. Stay tuned.”
The judge’s written opinion has not yet been released.
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