{"id":117684,"date":"2024-10-24T03:55:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T20:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117684"},"modified":"2024-10-24T03:55:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T20:55:48","slug":"justice-department-tells-elon-musks-pac-that-his-1-million-sweepstakes-could-be-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117684","title":{"rendered":"Justice Department tells Elon Musk\u2019s PAC that his $1 million sweepstakes could be illegal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div data-testid=\"nsc-wrapper-support-us\">\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-0 hyYaof\">\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-1 iKVFei\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-2 hpIzjT\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-10 bITOqV\">\n<p><button class=\"sc-16ay7ps-4 jyAPhF sc-16ay7ps-18 fYdfHH\" on=\"tap:AMP.setState({supportNscAmpAccordion: true})\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-8 kDWcOx\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-7 fiytbn\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 bNRJWU sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-16ay7ps-5 jJxovk\"><use href=\"#d5d9764c65d2cfa2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-13 gXLOOd\"><amp-accordion animate=\"\" class=\"i-amphtml-layout-container\" i-amphtml-layout=\"container\"><\/p>\n<section on=\"expand:AMP.setState({supportNscAmpAccordion: true});collapse:AMP.setState({supportNscAmpAccordion: false})\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-15 jDMrmT\">\n<h4 class=\"sc-16ay7ps-16 jIIEto\"\/>\n<div class=\"sc-16ay7ps-17 kWRxfA\">\n<p data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-16ay7ps-9 blNIe\">This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.<\/p>\n<p>The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.<\/p>\n<p><b>Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-16ay7ps-4 jyAPhF sc-16ay7ps-19 gFvbjS\" on=\"tap:AMP.setState({supportNscAmpAccordion: false})\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-8 kDWcOx\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-7 fiytbn\">Close<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 bNRJWU sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-16ay7ps-5 sc-16ay7ps-6 jJxovk cOIZLt\"><use href=\"#d5d9764c65d2cfa2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/amp-accordion><button class=\"sc-16ay7ps-4 jyAPhF sc-16ay7ps-20 egbBIr\" on=\"tap:AMP.setState({supportNscAmpAccordion: true})\" true=\"\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-8 kDWcOx\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-7 fiytbn\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 bNRJWU sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-16ay7ps-5 jJxovk\"><use href=\"#d5d9764c65d2cfa2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><button class=\"sc-16ay7ps-4 jyAPhF sc-16ay7ps-20 egbBIr\" on=\"tap:AMP.setState({supportNscAmpAccordion: false})\" false=\"\" supportnscampaccordion=\"=\" null=\"\" hidden=\"\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-8 kDWcOx\"><span class=\"sc-16ay7ps-7 fiytbn\">Close<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 bNRJWU sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-16ay7ps-5 sc-16ay7ps-6 jJxovk cOIZLt\"><use href=\"#d5d9764c65d2cfa2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/department-of-justice-0\">Department of Justice<\/a> has warned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/elon-musk\">Elon Musk<\/a>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/donald-trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>-supporting political action committee that a $1 million<a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/elon-musk-legal-election-prize-b2633147.html\"> sweepstakes could be illegal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A letter from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/justice-department\">Justice Department<\/a>\u2019s election crimes chief in its public integrity bureau reminded America PAC that offering anything of value to influence how someone casts their ballot would violate federal law.<\/p>\n<p>The letter, first reported by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.24sight.news\/p\/scoop-doj-sends-musk-pac-warning\">24sight<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/10\/23\/politics\/elon-musk-justice-department-letter\/index.html\">CNN<\/a>, follows alarm from election law experts and civil rights groups alleging that Musk\u2019s scheme is either an illegal vote-buying stunt or an ethically dubious infusion of the billionaire\u2019s cash into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/elon-musk-prize-winners-legal-b2633632.html\">Trump-boosting campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Independent<\/em> has requested comment from America PAC and the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>Every day until <a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/trump-harris-election-live-updates-town-hall-cnn-b2634340.html\">Election Day<\/a>, Musk plans to randomly hand out $1 million checks to people who signed a petition on his PAC\u2019s website to pledge their support for the First and Second Amendments. The PAC\u2019s goal is to get 1 million voters in seven swing states \u201cto sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The sweepstakes, however, are only open to registered voters in those swing states.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/elon-musk-prize-winners-legal-b2633632.html\">All of the first four winners of the sweepstakes have already voted <\/a>in November\u2019s elections, according to public records from secretary of state\u2019s offices reviewed by <em>The Independent.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-2 eOHevC image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cpcmmN\">\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-0 geAuUw\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/10\/23\/21\/2178881361.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/10\/23\/21\/2178881361.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/10\/23\/21\/2178881361.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Elon Musk speaks at a campaign event in Pennsylvania supporting Donald Trump on October 20.\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 iSVhwZ\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 hiCdLa liXvvg\">Elon Musk speaks at a campaign event in Pennsylvania supporting Donald Trump on October 20.<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 izyooE\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Getty Images<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The winners, all registered Republican voters, had already returned their mail-in ballots earlier this month before Musk handed them novelty-sized checks for $1 million.<\/p>\n<p>The first three winners are from Pennsylvania. A fourth winner announced on Tuesday is from North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p>UCLA School of Law professor and Safeguarding Democracy Project director Rich Hasen argued in a viral post on his website that Musk\u2019s stunt is \u201cclearly illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat essentially he\u2019s doing is setting up a lottery, and the only people who can participate are registered to vote. So it\u2019s either creating an incentive \u2026 or a reward,\u201d Hasen told MSNBC this week.<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called the scheme \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d and suggested law enforcement could be looking into it. A group of former Republican officials and prosecutors also called on the Justice Department to investigate this week.<\/p>\n<p>Under federal law, it is illegal to pay, offer to pay, or accept payment for registering to vote or voting. Election law experts have argued that Musk\u2019s scheme may have created a roundabout illegal incentive to get people to register to vote by allowing only registered voters to be eligible for his prize money.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s unclear what that could mean if the winners are all previously registered voters who cast their ballots before the prize money was even announced.<\/p>\n<p>In either case, Musk\u2019s stunt is \u201cjust the latest \u2014 and most egregious \u2014 example of wealthy special interests distorting our political process at the expense of everyday voters,\u201d Adav Noti, executive director of Campaign Legal Center, told <em>The Independent <\/em>this week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/elon-musk-illegal-america-pac-petition-b2634516.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story Read more This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117684\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8629],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=117684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117684\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=117684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=117684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=117684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}