Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Angelo Foglietta denied Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s request to block Elon Musk’s $1 million giveaway.
Krasner claimed Musk’s giveaway was part of an illegal lottery.
“The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries. The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections,” Krasner’s office said in announcing the lawsuit.
Foglietta did not explain why he denied Krasner’s request.
Chris Gober, an attorney for America PAC, said the giveaway winners were not random, but part of a system where participants act as spokespeople for the PAC.
“The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance,” Gober said in court, according to Fox News. “We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow.”
The PAC launched on October 19. At the time, Musk said, “So, I have a surprise for you, which is that we’re going to be awarding a million dollars randomly to people who have signed the petition every day from now until the election.”
America PAC’s director and treasurer, Chris Young, said “random” was not the term he would have used to describe the giveaway recipients.
