Publish: 13:25, 02 Nov, 2024

Pennsylvania challenge of Elon Musk's $1M-a-day voter sweepstakes moves back to state court

Online Desk
Pennsylvania challenge of Elon Musk's $1M-a-day voter sweepstakes moves back to state court
Photo - Collected

A legal fight over Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes is back in state court in Pennsylvania, a loss for the billionaire, after a federal judge said Friday that he doesn't have jurisdiction, reports AP.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner wants to keep his fight to shut down the giveaways in state court, calling it a violation of state lottery laws. Musk had argued that the case belonged in federal court as it involves claims of federal election interference. A judge scheduled a hearing for 10 a.m. Monday. It wasn't immediately clear whether Musk would attend though Krasner previously argued that Musk should have to appear in court.

Musk’s political organization, which aims to boost Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, has organized the sweepstakes as a way of encouraging people to be registered voters in key battleground states.

With just days to go until Tuesday's presidential election, the case now returns to Judge Angelo Foglietta, who held a brief hearing Thursday in a courtroom at Philadelphia City Hall. No further hearings were immediately scheduled.

U.S. District Judge Gerald J. Pappert, a Republican former Pennsylvania attorney general appointed to the federal bench by President Barack Obama, issued Friday's ruling.

"Defendants argue the complaint’s references to ‘the forthcoming Federal Presidential Election’ show the lawsuit necessarily raises questions of federal law. But federal question jurisdiction does not turn on a plaintiff’s motivations in filing suit; it turns on whether the legal issues arising from the claims originate in federal or state law,” Pappert wrote.

Krasner lawyer John Summers, in a statement, said he will now ask Foglietta “to enter an injunction to stop the defendants’ lottery and the defendants’ unfair and deceptive practices.” Matthew Haverstick, a lawyer for Musk, did not immediately respond to text and phone messages seeking comment.

Musk, who owns Tesla, SpaceX and X, has gone all in on Trump this election, saying he thinks civilization is at stake. He is undertaking much of the get-out-the-vote effort for Trump through his super PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited sums of money. He has committed more than $70 million to the super PAC to help Trump and other Republicans win in November.

Krasner accused Musk and his PAC in his lawsuit filed Monday of running a dubious lottery in the tense run-up to Tuesday’s election. Four of the first dozen winners appeared to be from Pennsylvania, perhaps the key prize in the tight presidential race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Is it just a coincidence that this is the state that has the largest electoral votes? I don’t think so,” lawyer John Summers argued Thursday.

Posts by Musk’s America PAC on his X platform indicate he’s given away 13 checks of $1 million since the first one in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 19. Other winners came from the battleground states of Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan. The sweepstakes is set to run through Election Day, open to registered voters in too-close-to-call states who sign a petition supporting the Constitution.

“They’re doing things in the dark,” Summers told the judge. “We don’t know the rules being followed. We don’t know how they’re supposedly picking people at random … It’s an outrage.”

Election law experts have questioned whether it violates federal law barring payments for votes. Musk has cast the money as both a prize as well as earnings for work as a spokesperson for the group.

Krasner has said he could still consider criminal charges, as he’s tasked with protecting both lotteries and the integrity of elections.

Both Trump and Kamala Harris have made repeated visits to the state as they fight for Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes, and both plan several more stops there before Tuesday.

bd-pratidin/Rafid

More News
“Enemy aircraft” penetrates Israeli airspace: Report
“Enemy aircraft” penetrates Israeli airspace: Report
Botswana Election: BDP ousted from power after 58 years
Botswana Election: BDP ousted from power after 58 years
Khamenei threatens Israel and US of crushing response
Khamenei threatens Israel and US of crushing response
UN nature summit approves Indigenous consultative body
UN nature summit approves Indigenous consultative body
Japan urges 200,000 people to evacuate due to landslide and flood risks
Japan urges 200,000 people to evacuate due to landslide and flood risks
Hezbollah launches drone after firing rocket on Israel
Hezbollah launches drone after firing rocket on Israel
Mud-caked volunteers clean flood debris in a Spanish town as authorities struggle to respond
Mud-caked volunteers clean flood debris in a Spanish town as authorities struggle to respond
Japan examining recognition of Palestinian state: Al Jazeera
Japan examining recognition of Palestinian state: Al Jazeera
US announces Mideast military deployments to deter Iran
US announces Mideast military deployments to deter Iran
Germany orders to shut down all Iranian Consulates after execution of Iranian-German prisoner
Germany orders to shut down all Iranian Consulates after execution of Iranian-German prisoner
Death toll in Serbia train station roof collapse rises to 14
Death toll in Serbia train station roof collapse rises to 14
19 Israeli injured in Hasharon rocket attack
19 Israeli injured in Hasharon rocket attack
Latest News
“Enemy aircraft” penetrates Israeli airspace: Report
“Enemy aircraft” penetrates Israeli airspace: Report

10 minutes ago | International

Committee formed for July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum
Committee formed for July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum

15 minutes ago | National

Botswana Election: BDP ousted from power after 58 years
Botswana Election: BDP ousted from power after 58 years

44 minutes ago | International

India out for 263 in third Test, lead New Zealand by 28
India out for 263 in third Test, lead New Zealand by 28

1 hour ago | Sports

Khamenei threatens Israel and US of crushing response
Khamenei threatens Israel and US of crushing response

1 hour ago | International

Govt forms 19-member committee to transform Gono Bhaban into a museum.
Govt forms 19-member committee to transform Gono Bhaban into a museum.

2 hours ago | National

Security beefed up around Jatiya Party office
Security beefed up around Jatiya Party office

2 hours ago | City

UN nature summit approves Indigenous consultative body
UN nature summit approves Indigenous consultative body

2 hours ago | International

Japan urges 200,000 people to evacuate due to landslide and flood risks
Japan urges 200,000 people to evacuate due to landslide and flood risks

2 hours ago | International

Thousands of spectators throng Suhrawardy Udyan on opening day of Jatra Festival
Thousands of spectators throng Suhrawardy Udyan on opening day of Jatra Festival

2 hours ago | City

Yunus asks players to write about their hopes, demands
Yunus asks players to write about their hopes, demands

3 hours ago | Sports

Hezbollah launches drone after firing rocket on Israel
Hezbollah launches drone after firing rocket on Israel

3 hours ago | International

Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat route suspended
Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat route suspended

3 hours ago | National

Ethiopian Airlines set to touch Dhaka’s runway on Sunday
Ethiopian Airlines set to touch Dhaka’s runway on Sunday

3 hours ago | Corporate Corner

14 criminals from Geneva Camp arrested in Sylhet-Habiganj-Brahmanbaria operation
14 criminals from Geneva Camp arrested in Sylhet-Habiganj-Brahmanbaria operation

3 hours ago | City

Tabu wows in black gown at ‘Dune Prophecy’ premiere in NY
Tabu wows in black gown at ‘Dune Prophecy’ premiere in NY

3 hours ago | Showbiz

Pennsylvania challenge of Elon Musk's $1M-a-day voter sweepstakes moves back to state court
Pennsylvania challenge of Elon Musk's $1M-a-day voter sweepstakes moves back to state court

4 hours ago | International

OpenAI launches ChatGpt search engine, competing with google
OpenAI launches ChatGpt search engine, competing with google

4 hours ago | Tech

Met office predicts mainly dry weather over country
Met office predicts mainly dry weather over country

4 hours ago | National

Mud-caked volunteers clean flood debris in a Spanish town as authorities struggle to respond
Mud-caked volunteers clean flood debris in a Spanish town as authorities struggle to respond

4 hours ago | International

Month long HPV vaccination campaign underway in Sadullapur
Month long HPV vaccination campaign underway in Sadullapur

4 hours ago | City

Chief Adviser hosts reception for Women’s Football team
Chief Adviser hosts reception for Women’s Football team

4 hours ago | Sports

Japan examining recognition of Palestinian state: Al Jazeera
Japan examining recognition of Palestinian state: Al Jazeera

4 hours ago | International

US announces Mideast military deployments to deter Iran
US announces Mideast military deployments to deter Iran

4 hours ago | International

Taj announces program with three demands
Taj announces program with three demands

4 hours ago | National

Country explores avenue to boost revenue collection
Country explores avenue to boost revenue collection

5 hours ago | Economy

‘Emily in Paris’ star Lucas Bravo mulling exit from show
‘Emily in Paris’ star Lucas Bravo mulling exit from show

5 hours ago | Showbiz

How losing 20kg inspired new mother to help others get in shape after giving birth
How losing 20kg inspired new mother to help others get in shape after giving birth

5 hours ago | Lifestyle

Germany orders to shut down all Iranian Consulates after execution of Iranian-German prisoner
Germany orders to shut down all Iranian Consulates after execution of Iranian-German prisoner

5 hours ago | International

SAFF champion women's footballers arrive in Jamuna
SAFF champion women's footballers arrive in Jamuna

5 hours ago | Sports

Most Read
Businessmen in fear of decline in investment
Businessmen in fear of decline in investment

8 hours ago | Special

Interim govt working to make discrimination free society: Hassan Ariff
Interim govt working to make discrimination free society: Hassan Ariff

19 hours ago | National

Srijato threatens legal action over Rabindra Sangeet disrespect on Kapil's show
Srijato threatens legal action over Rabindra Sangeet disrespect on Kapil's show

20 hours ago | Showbiz

73 cases still unresolved
73 cases still unresolved

7 hours ago | National

Canal cleaning campaign across 64 Districts inaugurated
Canal cleaning campaign across 64 Districts inaugurated

23 hours ago | National

DMP bans gatherings near Kakrail, surrounding areas
DMP bans gatherings near Kakrail, surrounding areas

21 hours ago | City

500,000 jobs to be created in govt sector in next 2 years: Asif Mahmud
500,000 jobs to be created in govt sector in next 2 years: Asif Mahmud

23 hours ago | National

Country explores avenue to boost revenue collection
Country explores avenue to boost revenue collection

5 hours ago | Economy

4 arrested for housewife murder in Benapole
4 arrested for housewife murder in Benapole

22 hours ago | City

Govt to review decision on keeping 7 colleges affiliated with DU
Govt to review decision on keeping 7 colleges affiliated with DU

20 hours ago | National

Cyber attacks on banks rise: Bangladesh Bank
Cyber attacks on banks rise: Bangladesh Bank

23 hours ago | National

Najmul Hossain to lead Bangladesh, quelling speculation
Najmul Hossain to lead Bangladesh, quelling speculation

19 hours ago | Sports

Shuvosangho provides Bochaganj madrasa students with educational materials
Shuvosangho provides Bochaganj madrasa students with educational materials

22 hours ago | Shuvosangho

MRT Pass registration suspended till November 7
MRT Pass registration suspended till November 7

22 hours ago | National

Stay united, alert against ‘ghosts of dictator’: Faruque
Stay united, alert against ‘ghosts of dictator’: Faruque

21 hours ago | National

CA’s reception for SAFF champions Saturday
CA’s reception for SAFF champions Saturday

19 hours ago | Sports

BU student’s death: Bus driver arrested
BU student’s death: Bus driver arrested

6 hours ago | City

Shuvosangho holds National Youth Day discussion
Shuvosangho holds National Youth Day discussion

20 hours ago | Shuvosangho

19 new gas wells will be drilled in Bhola: Fouzul Kabir
19 new gas wells will be drilled in Bhola: Fouzul Kabir

23 hours ago | National

Trump sues CBS News for $10 billion
Trump sues CBS News for $10 billion

22 hours ago | International

Shah Rukh Khan's birthday today
Shah Rukh Khan's birthday today

7 hours ago | Showbiz

India limp to 86-4 as spinners dominate
India limp to 86-4 as spinners dominate

20 hours ago | Sports

Gaza death toll rises
Gaza death toll rises

23 hours ago | International

Met office predicts mainly dry weather over country
Met office predicts mainly dry weather over country

4 hours ago | National

OpenAI launches ChatGpt search engine, competing with google
OpenAI launches ChatGpt search engine, competing with google

4 hours ago | Tech

Onion, potato prices continue to soar
Onion, potato prices continue to soar

7 hours ago | National

Dengue deaths among youth rising
Dengue deaths among youth rising

6 hours ago | National

19 Israeli injured in Hasharon rocket attack
19 Israeli injured in Hasharon rocket attack

6 hours ago | International

Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey replies to Trump’s tweet
Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey replies to Trump’s tweet

5 hours ago | National

Yunus asks players to write about their hopes, demands
Yunus asks players to write about their hopes, demands

3 hours ago | Sports