Justice Department Warns Elon Musk’s PAC About $1 Million Giveaway

The U.S. Department of Justice warned Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s America PAC that his $1 million giveaways to registered voters in battleground states could be illegal.

During a Trump campaign event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 19, Musk announced the $1 million prize from his political action committee, hoping to increase voter registrations in intensely contested states.

His original promise to pay prizes to registered voters quickly raised concerns from election law experts and some state officials who asked if it was unlawful. Federal law prohibits paying people to register to vote. 

Currently, the petition’s wording promises $1 million prizes to people chosen randomly for signing a petition supporting First and Second Amendment freedoms. 

However, one must be registered to vote in specific states to sign the petition.

In an X post on Sunday, America PAC rephrased its message about the giveaway, saying that the money is payment for a job “as a spokesperson for America PAC.”

Despite this, election law experts noted that the information on Musk’s super PAC website explaining the official terms of entry had not changed. 

According to the website, only petition signers can win the $1 million prize.

It also mentioned that signers “must be registered voters of Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin.”

A letter from the Justice Department’s public integrity section, which investigates possible election-related law violations, recently was sent to America PAC.

The Justice Department refused to comment on the matter.

It is unknown when Musk was given the Justice Department’s letter and whether it affected the messaging around the giveaway.

A recent study, “The 2024 Trillion Dollar Club,” conducted by Informa Connect Academy, found that Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire by 2027.

Despite Musk’s long history as a free speech defender, his social media platform has agreed to the government’s requests for increased security measures to prevent or remove user content.