On Sunday, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro urged law enforcement to investigate Elon Musk, the billionaire and CEO of Tesla, following Musk’s pledge at a pro-Trump rally to donate $1 million daily until Election Day.
During the Saturday event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Musk presented a $1 million check to an attendee at a rally organized by America PAC, a political group he founded to support Republican candidate Donald Trump in the upcoming November 5th presidential election.
Shapiro expressed his concerns on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” saying Musk’s initiative to distribute money to registered voters in Pennsylvania is “deeply concerning” and may warrant investigation by law enforcement.
Musk’s generous financial contributions are seen as an attempt to influence the tight presidential race between Trump and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Pennsylvania is a critical battleground state for both campaigns.
America PAC, spearheaded by Musk, plays a major role in mobilizing and registering voters in key swing states. However, reports indicate that the group is struggling to meet its objectives, according to Reuters.
The recipient of the $1 million check on Saturday was John Dreher, event staff confirmed. As Musk handed Dreher the check, he remarked, “By the way, John had no idea. So anyway, you’re welcome.”
On Sunday, Musk gave another $1 million check to a woman at an event in Pittsburgh, as reported by America PAC on X (formerly Twitter).
Musk’s current initiative promises to give $1 million each day to someone who signs his online petition, which promotes support for the First and Second Amendments—freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.
To qualify, participants must be registered voters and live in one of seven key swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, according to America PAC’s website.
In addition, the petition offers $100 to each registered Pennsylvania voter who signs and an additional $100 for those who refer another registered voter from Pennsylvania.
The legality of these giveaways is likely to be scrutinized in the coming days. Federal law prohibits compensating individuals to influence voter registration or voting behavior, with violations punishable by imprisonment.
This law covers not only direct monetary payments but also items of value, such as gifts or incentives, according to the Department of Justice’s election-crimes manual.
The rally in Harrisburg was Musk’s third Pennsylvania event in as many days, during which he emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and encouraged early voting. Attendees at Saturday’s event had to sign the petition, enabling America PAC to collect contact details to mobilize potential voters for Trump.
According to federal disclosures, Musk has already contributed at least $75 million to America PAC, making it a key player in Trump’s efforts to reclaim the presidency.
Musk, ranked as the world’s richest person by Forbes, has increasingly aligned himself with Republican causes and publicly backed Trump this year.
In response, Trump has stated that, if re-elected, he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.
