US Presidential election 2024: Elon Musk's lawyer admits his $1 million lottery winners are pre-selected

In a relief for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a judge in Pennsylvania on Monday allowed him to continue his $1 million-a-day giveaway to voters in swing states in the US presidential elections. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had requested the judge block the $1 million daily giveaway by the Tesla CEO, claiming it was a “scam,” a “grift,” and an “illegal lottery.”

CREDIT: AP

Elon Musk's $1 million-a-day giveaway

Musk, arguably the most high-profile supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump, had announced a $1 million-a-day giveaway to voters in swing states who sign a petition supporting the Constitution. The giveaway was organised through Musk's political action committee, America PAC, and was aimed at encouraging people to register as voters in Pennsylvania and other swing states before Election Day.

$16 million given away so far

So far, America PAC has given away $16 million to registered swing state voters who qualified for the giveaway by signing the political petition, and the last $1 million will be given away on Tuesday, Election Day.

CREDIT: AP

Winners are not chosen randomly?

While the court's refusal to block his $1 million-a-day giveaway is a relief to Musk, it shattered the presumption that anyone who signs his petition stands a chance to win it.

Lawyers for America PAC and its director, Chris Young, said the group distributed the funds based on who would be the best spokespeople for its pro-Trump agenda.

Young, America PAC's director, testified that he selected winners from a pool of candidates who appeared in videos for the group and allowed it to use their images after reviewing their social media and meeting them outside event venues.

Also read:?Elon Musk claims 'Wikipedia is controlled by far-left activists', asks people to 'stop donating to them'

CREDIT: AP

Surprised by Musk's claims

This is despite the fact that Musk has always publicly claimed that the winners would be chosen randomly.

Young said he was surprised to hear Musk describe the giveaway as random at the rally. He also acknowledged that the winners signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from speaking about the terms of the contracts.

For more news and current affairs?from around the world, please visit?Indiatimes News.