Philadelphia: A judge has mandated the attendance of all parties, including Elon Musk, at a court hearing in Philadelphia on Thursday regarding a lawsuit aimed at halting a political action committee controlled by the billionaire from distributing $1 million to registered U.S. voters in battleground states ahead of the November 5 U.S. election.
The lawsuit was filed by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on Monday, characterizing Musk’s America PAC, which supports Republican former President Donald Trump, as conducting an “illegal lottery” that incentivizes Pennsylvania residents to disclose personal information.
“It is further ordered that all parties must be present at the time of the hearing,” the judge stated in an order issued on Wednesday by the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. The hearing was rescheduled to Thursday morning, moving it up from its original Friday date.
Trump is set to face Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in what polls indicate is a closely contested race for the presidency.
Also Read | Samsung Seeks to Regain Ground in AI Chips After 40% Profit Drop
A representative for America PAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Musk’s team has also not provided any statements on the matter.
Musk previously pledged to award $1 million daily to individuals who signed his online free speech and gun rights petition. However, legal experts consulted by Reuters last week expressed differing opinions on whether this giveaway breaches federal laws prohibiting payments or offers to incentivize voter registration.
Also Read | AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson Challenge U.S. Drug Pricing Mandate
Additionally, the Justice Department sent a letter to America PAC cautioning that Musk’s initiatives for registered voters who sign his petition could potentially violate federal regulations, as reported by CNN last week.
The Trump campaign heavily relies on external groups for voter outreach, placing Musk’s super PAC, led by the world’s richest man, in a crucial position in what is anticipated to be a tightly contested election.
