Hot topics close

Elon Musk sued over $1m-a-day election giveaway

Elon Musk sued over 1maday election giveaway
Complaint alleges Musk’s America Pac deceived voters by falsely claiming prize winners would be chosen at random
Elon Musk on stage at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania last month.View image in fullscreen

Elon Musk sued over $1m-a-day election giveaway

Complaint alleges Musk’s America Pac deceived voters by falsely claiming prize winners would be chosen at random

  • US election 2024 – live news updates
  • US election results 2024: live map and tracker

Elon Musk was sued in a proposed class action on Tuesday by registered voters who signed his petition to support the constitution for a chance to win his $1m-a-day giveaway, and now claim it was a fraud.

US election 2024 live: most swing state polls closed as Harris and Trump pick up big electoral wins with New York and Texas
Read more

The complaint, filed by the Arizona resident Jacqueline McAferty in federal court, said Musk and his America Pac organization falsely induced voters to sign a petition by claiming they would choose winners by chance. In fact, members of the Pac selected the winners, the suit alleges. Musk’s own attorneys said in court that the sweepstakes’ results were not random; they disclosed that the winners were chosen to be spokespeople for the group.

“The $1m recipients are not chosen by chance,” Chris Gober, a lawyer for Musk, said during a hearing in Pennsylvania. “We know exactly who will be announced as the $1m recipient today and tomorrow.” Musk, meanwhile, said at a campaign rally that his Pac would be “awarding $1m randomly to people who have signed the petition”.

McAferty also said the defendants had profited from the giveaway by driving traffic and attention to Musk’s X social media platform, and by collecting personal information such as her name, address and phone number that they could sell. A lawyer for Musk and lawyers for McAferty did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint.

McAferty sued a day after a Philadelphia judge denied a request by that city’s district attorney, Larry Krasner, to end the giveaway, which Krasner called an illegal lottery. That ruling was largely symbolic because Musk has no plans to give out more money following the US presidential election.

The world’s richest person opened the giveaway to voters in seven battleground states who signed a petition to support free speech and gun rights. Tuesday’s lawsuit seeks at least $5m in damages for everyone who signed.

Musk has supported Donald Trump in the presidential race against Kamala Harris and given upwards of $100m via America Pac.

Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage

skip past newsletter promotion

after newsletter promotion

  • When will we know the result?

  • Abortion ballot measure results by state

  • Senate, House and governor results

  • Everything you need to know

Explore more on these topics
  • Elon Musk
  • US politics
  • Pennsylvania
  • Donald Trump
  • US elections 2024
  • news
Share
Reuse this content
Similar news
News Archive
  • Paradox Interactive
    Paradox Interactive
    Cities: Skylines 2 team apologizes, makes DLC free and promises a fan summit
    20 Apr 2024
    9
  • Jamie Vincent
    Jamie Vincent
    Former Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace star Jamie Vincent dies aged 46
    18 Jan 2022
    4
  • Heracross
    Heracross
    Mega Heracross Raid Guide
    4 Apr 2024
    2
  • Continental AG
    Continental AG
    Tyre deals: January savings on Continental, Vittoria, Michelin, Schwalbe, Challenge and more
    28 Jan 2021
    8
  • Jodie Comer
    Jodie Comer
    After 'Killing Eve,' Jodie Comer wants to push herself
    12 Jun 2024
    54
  • Meek Mill
    Meek Mill
    Rapper Meek Mill denies Diddy relationship claims as he drops new ...
    29 Feb 2024
    2