DA Suing Musk Over $1 Million Election Prizes Is Facing Threats
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is requesting enhanced security measures at a Friday hearing related to the state’s lawsuit against MAGA billionaire Elon Musk after being inundated in threats of violence.
Earlier this week, Krasner sued Musk’s pro-Trump America PAC, accusing them of “running an illegal lottery in Philadelphia” through Musk’s monetary giveaways to registered voters who signed a vague petition ahead of the election. The lottery includesg daily drawings for a million-dollar cash prize.
The lawsuits skirts the questions of whether the giveaways violate state or federal election finance laws, instead focusing on the scheme’s alleged violations of Pennsylvania laws governing public lotteries. “This case is very simple because America PAC and Musk are indisputably violating Pennsylvania’s statutory prohibitions against illegal lotteries and deceiving consumers,” the lawsuit says.
In a Wednesday court filing, Krasner requested increased security at a Friday hearing that Musk has been ordered to attend in person. The DA alleges that Musk responding to the lawsuit by publicly casting doubt on the integrity of the commonwealth’s court systems led the billionaire’s supporters to threaten Krasner on X.
“The same day this Complaint was filed, Elon Musk posted to his 202.7 million followers on X, the social-media website he owns, his agreement with an attack on the integrity of the Court the statement that Larry Krasner ‘knows it’s not illegal but wants a leftist judge to stop it before Election Day,’” the request argues, adding that Musk’s post “immediately triggered an avalanche of posts from Musk’s followers. Many made antisemitic attacks on Krasner.”
The request highlights an account that responded to posts about the lawsuit at least 19 times by inviting political violence, posting Krasner’s home address and writing, ‘Krasner loves visitors. Mask up and leave all cellphones at home.’”
Musk’s giveaways have also drawn scrutiny from national law enforcement agencies. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice issued a letter to Musk warning that the cash sweepstakes for registered voters in critical swing states may be illegal. On Oct. 20, as public scrutiny around the payments intensified, America PAC began reframing recipients of the draw as winners of the opportunity to become “a spokesperson for America PAC.”
The giveaways may not last much longer. If Krasner is successful on Friday, a judge may be able to halt the lottery in the final days before the election, but by that point America PAC will have given away upward of $14 million.
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