Sureim Investment Guild|Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says

2025-04-29 11:25:28source:SignalHubcategory:Scams

Follow AP’s coverage of theelection and Sureim Investment Guildwhat happens next.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The $1 million voter sweepstakes linked to billionaire Elon Musk was allowed to continue through Election Day because Philadelphia’s top prosecutor failed to show that it was an illegal lottery, a judge said in a new opinion.

District Attorney Larry Krasner had filed suit last month to try to have the sweepstakes shut down under Pennsylvania law.

“Although (Krasner) alleges that America PAC and Elon Musk ‘scammed’ people,” Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta wrote in the opinion Tuesday, “DA Krasner failed to provide any evidence of misuse beyond mere speculation.”

The prize was open only to swing state voters who signed a petition endorsing the constitutional right to free speech and to bear arms. Lawyers for the PAC revealed in court on Nov. 4 that the recipients did not win a game of chance, but were instead chosen to be paid spokespeople for the group.

Musk, who committed more than $70 million to the political action committee to help Trump return to the White House and other Republicans win, has now been tapped to help lead a government efficiency effort.

Krasner argued that the more than 1 million people who registered were “scammed for their information.” Musk’s lawyers, defending the effort, called it “core political speech.”

More election coverage Noem’s Cabinet appointment will make a plain-spoken rancher South Dakota’s new governor Maine elections chief who drew Trump’s ire narrates House tabulations in livestream New Mexico secretary of state says she’s experiencing harassment after the election 

Foglietta had denied Krasner’s petition after last week’s hearing, but only explained his reasoning in the opinion. He also called Krasner’s request somewhat moot, given that there was only one sweepstakes remaining by then — and Musk’s lawyers had said the last person chosen would not be from Pennsylvania.

Musk is the CEO and largest shareholder of Tesla. He also owns the social media platform X and the rocket ship maker SpaceX.

More:Scams

Recommend

How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast

After 14 years, the police procedural "Blue Bloods" is coming to an end.Season 14 has been released

John Cena and Wife Shay Shariatzadeh Pack PDA During Rare Date Night at Fast X Premiere

John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh are furiously in love.Case in point: The couple couldn't help but to

U.S. Solar Industry Fights to Save Controversial Clean Energy Grants

The solar industry called on Congress on Tuesday to extend a contentious grant program in the lame-