The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently issued a caution to Elon Musk’s pro-Trump super PAC, America PAC, warning that its daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters in key swing states might be illegal, according to numerous news sources.
The DOJ’s Public Integrity Section expressed concerns in a letter to America PAC, suggesting that this sweepstake initiative could breach federal law, particularly statutes prohibiting payments in exchange for voter registration, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Interestingly, America PAC did not announce any new winners for the $1 million prize on Wednesday, following the DOJ’s warning.
A coalition of nearly twelve public officials, some of whom served under Republican administrations, reached out to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry (D) earlier in the week, urging them to investigate America PAC’s financial activities.
“We are aware of nothing like this in modern political history,” the officials declared in a letter cited by The Washington Post.
The officials highlighted that the DOJ has consistently classified “anything with monetary value,” including lottery prizes, as a potentially unlawful incentive for voter registration.
The letter continued: “We recognize that they are framed as payments for signing a petition, or for referring voters who sign. But many of the payments are restricted to registered voters, so anyone who wishes to get paid must first register.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) also expressed concerns, describing the sweepstakes as “deeply concerning” and hinting that it “raises serious questions that folks may want to take a look at.”
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Shapiro stated, “I think there are real questions with how he is spending money in this race. How the dark money is flowing, not just into Pennsylvania but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians.”
Launched on Saturday, the sweepstakes required participants to be registered voters in seven targeted swing states and to have signed a petition supporting both free speech and the right to bear arms, in line with the PAC’s objectives.
So far, three initial $1 million checks were awarded to registered voters in Pennsylvania, where Musk has been notably active in promoting former President Trump’s campaign in recent weeks.
When approached for comments, the DOJ declined to elaborate on its warning letter. Similarly, America PAC did not respond to The Hill’s request for comments.
This sweepstakes campaign has attracted significant attention from campaign finance and legal experts, who have questioned whether this form of financial incentive might violate election law.
