In the final hours of 2024, election-related rulings from courts are being issued fast and furious. Angelo Foglietta, a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge, handed down a ruling Monday afternoon regarding the Million-Dollar-a-Day sweepstakes that Elon Musk’s America PAC promoted.
We reported earlier that Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had filed a suit last Monday claiming the giveaway to be an “illegal lotteries scheme”. Musk’s lawyers then asked for permission to transfer the case to federal courts (a common defense tactic). The federal court refused to accept the case, and Krasner was granted the motion to remand it to the Court of Common Pleas.
Foglietta’s ruling was issued after a hearing that took place on Monday.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP) – A Pennsylvania judge ruled that the $1 million per day voter sweepstakes Elon Musk’s political action group is holding in swing states could continue until Tuesday’s presidential elections.
Angelo Foglietta, a judge of the Common Pleas Court who ruled after Musk’s attorneys said that the winners were not selected by chance, did not give an immediate reason for his ruling.
Larry Krasner, the District Attorney of Philadelphia, called it a scam and a violation of state election laws. He asked for its closure.
Musk’s legal team disagreed with Krasner, who claimed that the giveaway was “political marketing disguised as a lotto.”
Musk’s attorneys said that the winners of the sweepstakes were not chosen at random but rather paid spokespersons for the group.
Musk’s lawyer Chris Gober has said that the two final recipients of the presidential election on Tuesday will be Arizona on Monday, and Michigan on Tuesday.
Gober stated on Monday that the $1 million recipients were not selected by chance. We know who will be the recipients of $1 million today and tomorrow.
Foglietta’s Order denies Krasner’s motion for preliminary injunction, without any further explanation. However, it does hint that the court will soon issue its findings of facts and conclusions of law.
The issue has been largely moot since the program ended on Tuesday (Election Day). Musk’s legal staff indicated that the remaining winners wouldn’t be from Pennsylvania.
Musk and America PAC are entitled to claim that this is a victory.
