The billionaire Elon Muskwho supports the Republican candidate donald trumpwas ordered to appear Thursday at a hearing on the lawsuit filed by a prosecutor to block million dollar gifts a day to registered voters in swing states ahead of the US elections.
The hearing before Judge Angelo Foglietta concerns Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s attempt to block the gift before the presidential elections of November 5 between former President Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to published reports, Krasner asked the court greater safety for the audiencealleging that social media users posted an “avalanche” of inflammatory messages, including anti-Semitic attacks toward him, and posted his home address.
Musk, for his part, is trying to move the case to the Philadelphia federal court.
In his writing, Musk indicated that the Krasner interference in his political speech and his claim that he “somehow illegally interfered in a federal election” raise important questions of law that must be resolved in federal court.
Krasner, who championed progressive causes when he ran for district attorney, accuses the Tesla CEO and his America PAC political action committee of plotting a “illegal lottery scheme to influence voters.
Musk promised to give a million dollars a day randomly selected people to sign a petition pledging to support free speech and gun rights.
Signers had to be registered voters in one of the seven states that will likely decide the outcome of the Nov. 5 election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The lawsuit filed by Krasner on October 28 alleges that the drawing amounts to an illegal lottery not authorized by the State, which is the only one that has the authority to organize and regulate them.
The lawsuit also says it violates consumer protection laws by “displaying misleading, vague or misleading statements” about its rules.
“Running an illegal lottery and violating consumer protections is sufficient basis for an injunction and a conclusion that America PAC and Musk must be stopped immediately before the upcoming presidential election on November 5,” the lawsuit said.
