Tesla CEO Elon Musk might face his toughest Halloween after a Philadelphia judge mandated his attendance at a Thursday court hearing.
The hearing stems from a lawsuit aiming to halt a political action committee (PAC) controlled by Musk. This PAC is accused of attempting to distribute $1 million to registered voters in key battleground states before the presidential election on November 5.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office filed the lawsuit on Monday. The lawsuit labels the giveaway from Musk’s America PAC—an organization supporting Republican former President Donald Trump—as an “illegal lottery.” It allegedly encouraged Pennsylvania residents to share personal information.
In the upcoming election, Trump faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, and polls indicate a close contest.
To date, neither America PAC, Musk, nor his representatives have publicly responded to the lawsuit.
Musk had announced plans to donate $1 million daily to individuals who sign his online petition advocating for free speech and gun rights.
Legal opinions are divided on whether such a giveaway breaches federal laws that prohibit payments in exchange for voter registration, as per legal experts consulted by Reuters.
The Justice Department also warned America PAC, suggesting that the giveaways might contravene federal laws.
As the Trump campaign heavily relies on external groups for voter canvassing, Musk’s super PAC, headed by the world’s wealthiest individual, is poised to significantly influence what’s anticipated to be a closely contested election.
