Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Is Elon Musk’s $1 Million Prize a Bribe in Disguise? Legal Battle Heats Up

Yonhap News

Tesla CEO Elon Musk can continue a daily $1 million giveaway event until election day.

According to the AP, on Monday, U.S. District Judge Angelo Foglietta in Pennsylvania ruled that Musk’s event, which offers cash to voters, could proceed through its final day despite a lawsuit seeking to halt it. The judge’s reasoning was not immediately disclosed.

Musk’s legal team argued in court that the $1 million prize winner was not selected through a random drawing.

Chris Young, director of the super PAC America PAC, also testified that potential winners underwent pre-screening to ensure their values aligned with the organization’s. He clarified that winners were not chosen randomly, as in a lottery.

In response, District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office representative alleged that the event was a fraudulent scheme designed to influence the election.

Previously, Musk had pledged to award $1 million daily to a randomly selected resident who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments (freedom of speech and the right to bear arms), aiming to boost conservative voter registration in swing states.

Eligibility for signing the petition was restricted to registered voters in seven battleground states: Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

In response, on October 28, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed a civil suit in Philadelphia’s district court against Musk and America PAC, which had been established to support Trump’s election, seeking to stop the prize distribution.

After filing the lawsuit, Krasner stated, “We have a responsibility to protect the public from unfair trading practices and illegal lotteries. The prosecution also must safeguard the integrity of elections from actions that undermine it.”

Hot this week

With 95% AI Accelerator Market Share, Nvidia’s Growth Story Isn’t Over

Nvidia's stock surges past $3.8 trillion market value, poised to become the first company to reach $4 trillion amid strong AI market dominance.

Trump’s Trade Tactics: Letters to All Nations on Tariffs

Trump plans to end the grace period for tariffs, sending letters outlining trade deficits and imposing tariffs on imports.

Sami Sheen Says She’s Removing Implants After Health Scare

Sami Sheen, daughter of Charlie Sheen, reveals health issues after breast surgery and plans to remove implants for recovery.

U.S. Growth Slows, Pressure Builds on Fed to Act

Expectations rise for a Fed interest rate cut amid worsening labor market signs and increased unemployment claims.

Dow Dips, Nasdaq Gains as Wall Street Awaits Fed’s Next Move

The New York stock market closed mixed, with Nvidia hitting a record high while Tesla faced declining sales in Europe.

Topics

With 95% AI Accelerator Market Share, Nvidia’s Growth Story Isn’t Over

Nvidia's stock surges past $3.8 trillion market value, poised to become the first company to reach $4 trillion amid strong AI market dominance.

Trump’s Trade Tactics: Letters to All Nations on Tariffs

Trump plans to end the grace period for tariffs, sending letters outlining trade deficits and imposing tariffs on imports.

Sami Sheen Says She’s Removing Implants After Health Scare

Sami Sheen, daughter of Charlie Sheen, reveals health issues after breast surgery and plans to remove implants for recovery.

U.S. Growth Slows, Pressure Builds on Fed to Act

Expectations rise for a Fed interest rate cut amid worsening labor market signs and increased unemployment claims.

Dow Dips, Nasdaq Gains as Wall Street Awaits Fed’s Next Move

The New York stock market closed mixed, with Nvidia hitting a record high while Tesla faced declining sales in Europe.

Nvidia Stock Pops Past $150, Beating Microsoft in Market Value

Nvidia's stock rose to 152.36 USD amid concerns over export restrictions to China, surpassing Microsoft’s market cap.

Nvidia Soars Despite CEO Share Sale, Tesla Tanks on Robotaxi Trouble

The New York stock market rises as Dow surpasses 43,000, Nvidia gains despite CEO stock sale, while Tesla and defense stocks decline.

Gold Prices Plunge as Iran and Israel Call for Ceasefire

Gold prices fell as geopolitical tensions eased between Israel and Iran, with analysts predicting potential future increases.

Related Articles