Musk announced the $1 million giveaway at an event in Harrisburg, Pa., on Saturday. The event was part of a tour supporting Trump.
“I have a surprise for you," Musk said shortly before bringing out a giant check. "We are going to be awarding $1 million to people who have signed the petition — every day, from now until the election.”
“If you look at the conditions, you must be a registered voter,” Hasen said. “And so this is essentially a lottery that’s open only to people who register to vote. So it’s either an incentive for someone to vote or it’s a reward. And either way, it violates federal law.”
He calls Musk’s actions “clearly illegal” because it violates statute 52 U.S.C. 10307© and the Department of Justice’s election manual.
Hasen said willful violation of statute 52 U.S.C. 10307© comes with a $10,000 fine and up to five years in prison.
“I don’t think it would be likely that he would suffer such a serious fine,” Hasen said of Musk. “Although, if he was warned that this is illegal activity and continued to do it, I think that would create a different kind of situation.”
- dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP4·29 days ago