Elon Musk settles lawsuits over 2024 election lottery scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 15:57 · Archive

Elon Musk has settled two lawsuits accusing his political action committee of fraud over $1 million giveaways during the 2024 election.

Elon Musk and his America PAC have settled two lawsuits accusing them of fraud over $1 million giveaways during the 2024 election. The lawsuits were filed in federal court in Austin, Texas. Settlement terms were not disclosed, and the settlements are subject to court approval.

Musk's America PAC pledged to give away $1 million per day to registered voters in seven swing states, who were required to sign a petition supporting free speech and the right to bear arms. Musk initially said the winners would be chosen at random. However, his lawyers later admitted in court that winners were 'not chosen by chance'. Instead, winners were selected partly based on their perceived suitability to represent the PAC and support Trump's candidacy.

Plaintiffs including Arizona resident Joy Havrick alleged they were misled and treated as 'marketing props'. Havrick's lawyers wrote that had she known the lottery was not random or that her selection hinged on her perceived favourability to Musk as a marketing tool, she would not have signed the petition or provided her personal information. The Justice Department notified Musk and America PAC in 2024 that the giveaways may violate federal law.

How it is being reported

• Elon Musk agrees to settle lawsuits over 2024 election lotteryTrump-boosting billionaire was sued over promise to give away $1m per day to random signatories of petition Elon Musk and his America Pac political action committee said recently that they agreed to settle two proposed class actions alleging the billionaire entrepreneur defrauded residents in closely contested states before the 2024 US election by promising voters a lottery-style daily $1m giveaway. The plaintiffs, Musk and America Pac told the judge overseeing the two related lawsuits in federal court in Austin, Texas, on Thursday that they have reached settlements subject to court…Guardian World · 17 Oct, 15:42
• Elon Musk settles lawsuits accusing his super PAC of election fraudElon Musk has settled two lawsuits accusing his political action committee of fraud over its $1 million giveaways during the 2024 election.UPI · 16 Oct, 21:45

In this story: Elon Musk · America PAC · Donald Trump · Arizona · Joy Havrick · Texas

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