The Justice Department sent a letter to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s America PAC warning that its $1 million sweepstakes for registered voters in swing states could violate federal law, a close source confirmed Wednesday of the file to ABC News.
The letter from the Election Crimes Branch of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section was sent to Musk’s PAC in recent days, the source said.
Musk, who campaigned for former President Donald Trump, announced a lottery-style giveaway this weekend, pledging to give $1 million a day to a resident of a randomly selected swing state who would accept to sign his PAC’s petition supporting the first and second. amendments.
To qualify, the person must be a registered voter, leading experts to question whether the lottery could violate federal law that prohibits individuals from paying people to register to vote.
On Tuesday, Musk distributed three checks for $1 million.
It’s unclear whether the Justice Department determined the gift was outright illegal.
Elon Musk speaks at a campaign town hall in support of former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, in Folsom, Pennsylvania, October 17, 2024.
Matt Rourke/AP
Independent news site 24Sight News was first to report the letter on Wednesday.
Justice Department officials declined to comment to ABC News.
Representatives for Musk and his America PAC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
