Judge summons Elon Musk to court over controversial $1.3m giveaway ahead of US election

A Philadelphia judge has ordered Elon Musk, along with all involved parties, to appear in court on Thursday, October 31, over a lawsuit challenging a $1 million-a-day giveaway by Musk’s America PAC.

The lawsuit, filed by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, seeks to halt what it calls an “illegal lottery” targeting voters in battleground states just days before the pivotal November 5 U.S. election.

The America PAC, which backs Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump, has promised the hefty prizes to registered voters who sign Musk’s petition advocating free speech and gun rights. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the giveaway encourages Pennsylvania residents to share sensitive personal data under questionable legal grounds.

“It is further ordered that all parties must be present at the time of the hearing,” the judge stated in an order issued Wednesday by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, moving the hearing up by one day.

With Trump locked in a close race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, the high-stakes nature of the case is underscored by the Justice Department’s recent warning to America PAC, advising that the giveaway could infringe on federal laws prohibiting payment to voters for registration. However, legal experts remain divided on whether the campaign action crosses legal lines.

A representative for America PAC did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Musk’s representatives. As Trump’s campaign leans on external groups for voter engagement, Musk’s substantial contributions are expected to play a critical role in what many anticipate will be a razor-thin election outcome.