Musk defends $1 million daily giveaway after warning of violation of federal election law – Times of India

Tesla CEO Elon muskwho supports the Republican presidential candidate of former US President Donald Trumphas defended super PAC$1 million daily giveaway to voters in key battleground states after DOJ (DOJ) raised potential legal concerns, NBC News reported.
During an online X town hall Friday, Musk said the race’s purpose was solely to promote constitutional freedoms, not to incentivize voter registration.
“This is not a petition to vote or register for anyone. This is really a petition in support of the United States Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms,” Musk explained during the event.
His remarks were in response to a letter from the DOJ sent to America PAC, Musk’s political action committeewho warned that the lottery-style contest could run afoul of federal laws that prohibit compensating individuals for registering to vote.
The $1 million daily prize is open to registered voters in seven battleground states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — who sign an online petition in support of the First and Second Amendments.
In Pennsylvania, the PAC also offered $100 to petition signers. Legal experts noted that while this effort may be in a “gray area” from a legal perspective, the DOJ’s concern stems from restrictions against financially rewarding voter registration.
Musk’s PAC, however, claims the race is meant to rally support for constitutional rightsnot to influence party affiliation.
“The winners can come from any or no political party,” Musk said. “One doesn’t even have to vote.” The initiative was launched at a Trump rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with Musk emphasizing his support for the former president’s 2024 campaign. Musk has reportedly invested nearly $75 million in the super PAC and has actively campaigned for Trump in Pennsylvania.
Musk, who has positioned himself as the “anti-Soros” of liberal financier George Soros, said he is focused on preserving basic American freedoms. He added, “The Justice Department’s priorities seem misplaced,” highlighting recent criminal cases against Trump as “political” and criticizing the Justice Department’s intervention in a Virginia lawsuit over immigration and the state’s voter rolls.
What the DOJ said in the letter
The Justice Department issued an alert warning that offering $1 million to registered voters who signed a petition could violate federal laws prohibiting payments to voters, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The department’s public integrity unit has sent similar warning letters to other businesses and organizations that have linked promotions to voting, suggesting that if such activities continue, they could face criminal investigation.
These letters typically do not specify the department’s next steps, but are intended to prompt recipients to change their practices to meet legal standards. It is illegal under federal law to pay people to register to vote.
Despite the DOJ’s concerns, some legal experts say Musk’s initiative may not expressly infringe electoral law.
Election attorney Matthew Sanderson noted, “I can see why people would argue that this violates the law, but I don’t think it does.” Musk’s PAC, however, adjusted its wording after the DOJ warning, now describing the award recipients as “speakers” on the petition .
Yet critics argue that the basic structure that focuses on registered voters in the swing statescan still circumvent federal regulations.