Topline

Elon Musk’s pro-Trump super PAC continued to give away a $1 million daily prize to registered voters in swing states who wanted to sign a petition on Thursday, despite reportedly being warned by the Justice Department that the prizes might violate federal law.

Key facts

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News Peg

Citing anonymous sources, CNN reported Wednesday that the DOJ’s Public Integrity Division — which investigates potential election crimes — sent a letter to America PAC “in recent days” warning that the $1 million giveaway to voters could be in violation with federal law.

Important background

America PAC — which, according to Federal Election Commission filings, is almost entirely funded by Musk — is giving away a $1 million prize every day to a random person who signs a petition on their website “calling him (their) support for the First and Second Amendments.” To be eligible for the award, the individual must be a registered voter in one of the seven major battleground states. The giveaway has drawn criticism and concerns from legal experts who point to federal election law, which says that anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payments for registration to vote or to vote” may be fined $10,000 and five to get. -year imprisonment. Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro has also criticized the giveaway, saying Musk is free to express his opinions, but “when you start pouring this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions about where people might want to watch. Musk, who has endorsed former President Donald Trump and announced the giveaway at a Trump rally, has pushed back, saying the winner “could be from any political party or no political party and you don’t even have to vote.”

How much did Musk donate to America Pac?

Elon Musk has poured more than $118 million of his fortune into funding the pro-Trump PAC, FEC documents released Thursday showed. Between October 1 and October 16, Musk donated $43.6 million to the PAC. The latest contribution is in addition to the $75 million in donations Musk made during the three-month period ending September 30.

Forbes rating

According to our estimates, Elon Musk’s net worth is $269.8 billion, making him the richest person in the world. The billionaire’s net worth rose by $26 billion on Thursday, fueled by a rise in Tesla’s stock price.

Read more

DOJ Reportedly Warns Elon Musk That His $1 Million Voter Gifts May Be Illegal (Forbes)

Elon Musk is now Trump’s second-largest backer, donating nearly $120 million to Super PAC (Forbes)