Musk, who has put up more than $70M US to help Trump, is raising legal questions about multimillion-dollar gifts.
The Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro is one of those who want to investigate the billionaire Elon Musk, for his promise at the weekend pro-Trump rally to give $1 million to the American every day until the election day in the US.
Musk on Saturday presented a $1-million US check to attendees of a rally in Harrisburg, Pa., hosted by America PAC, the political group the Tesla CEO founded to support Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 presidential election. .
Shapiro said on NBC Meet the media that Musk’s plan to give money to registered voters in Pennsylvania is “very concerning” and “something for law enforcement to look into.”
The money is the latest example of Musk using his extraordinary wealth to influence the hotly contested presidential race between Trump and his Democratic rival, US Vice President Kamala Harris. Pennsylvania is a must-win state for both Trump and Harris.
Musk’s American PAC is playing a major role in helping mobilize and register voters in battleground states that could decide the election, but there are signs it is having trouble achieving its goals, Reuters first reported on Friday.
The lucky recipient of Saturday’s check was a man named John Dreher, event workers said.
“By the way, John didn’t know anything. So, you’re welcome,” Musk said as he handed Dreher the check.
Kristine today became the recipient of $1 MILLION for signing our petition to support the Constitution
Every day until Election Day, a registered county voter who signs the petition will be chosen to win $1M as an America PAC spokesperson.
SIGN: pic.twitter.com/1mqkJ2rmvS
On Sunday, Musk presented a second $1 million check to a woman at an event in Pittsburgh, according to America PAC on X.
Musk, ranked by Forbes as the world’s richest person, has so far given at least $75 million to America PAC, according to the organization’s filing, making the group a key part of Trump’s bid to win back the White House.
The Harris campaign has not officially commented on the donation, although in a fundraising email encouraging supporters to donate early Monday, it said “[Trump’s] friend Elon Musk is spending huge sums of money on his ads recruiting the vice president.”
Only provincial voters are eligible
Musk, who was born in South Africa and became a Canadian citizen for a time while attending university, is promising to give $1 million each day to someone who signs his online petition, which reads, “The First and Second Amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to speak.” By signing below, I pledge to support the First and Second Amendments.”
To be eligible for the $1 million US, petition signers must be registered voters and live in one of the seven up-and-coming states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to America PAC’s website.
Voters in seven swing states will determine the outcome of the US presidential election in November. Andrew Chang breaks down each state Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are playing for and their paths to 270 electoral college votes.
The petition also provides $100 US for each registered Pennsylvania voter who signs and $100 US for referring a registered Pennsylvania voter to sign.
The validity of the giveaways will be reviewed in the coming days.
It is a federal offense to pay people for the purpose of inducing or rewarding them to vote or register, which is punishable by prison time. Prohibitions include not only financial expenses, but also anything of monetary value such as alcohol or lottery tickets, the Justice Department’s election crime handbook says.
The event in Harrisburg was the third in as many days in Pennsylvania, where Musk painted the November election in a bleak light and encouraged supporters to vote early on Trump’s ticket and vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. Attendees at Saturday’s event were required to sign a petition, allowing America PAC to collect contact information from potential voters who could work to reach Trump’s election.
Vance suggested last week that “big tech companies” helped change the 2020 election when a New York Post story criticizing Joe Biden was temporarily blocked from appearing on Facebook and Twitter, renamed X by Musk. Vance did not comment negatively on X’s owner’s efforts to participate in the cycle.
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After denying that he is a Republican, Musk has become more vocal in his support of party causes and this year became an outspoken Trump supporter.
Trump, on the other hand, said that if he is elected, he will appoint Musk to lead the government efficiency commission, which seems to be full of conflicts since Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, Tesla and Starlink, are subject to regulations or have contracts with the government. organizations.
Trump, who was campaigning Sunday in Pennsylvania, when asked about Musk’s donation, said, “I didn’t follow that.”
