Tech billionaire Elon Musk's commitment to donate $1 million per day until the upcoming U.S. elections is facing scrutiny from legal experts. Concerns have emerged regarding the legality of his plan, which involves giving money to registered voters in key swing states who sign an online petition. Critics argue that this initiative could infringe upon laws that prohibit cash incentives for voting.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro voiced his worries about Musk's scheme during a recent interview. He described it as "deeply concerning" and indicated that law enforcement might investigate the matter. Shapiro acknowledged Musk's right to express his political views, particularly his support for former President Donald Trump. However, he emphasized the troubling nature of injecting significant sums of money into the political landscape.
Through his political action committee, America PAC, Musk has pledged $75 million to assist Trump in defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the November 5 election. At a pro-Trump event in Folsom, Pennsylvania, Musk stated that the upcoming election could determine the future of the United States and Western civilization.
Legal experts are particularly alarmed by Musk’s offer of $1 million checks to individuals who support the First and Second Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments guarantee freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. However, the requirement that participants must be registered voters raises serious legal questions.
According to federal law, it is illegal to offer financial incentives for casting a vote or registering to vote. This prohibition extends to any form of monetary compensation or valuable gifts, as outlined in a U.S. Department of Justice election-crimes manual. Rick Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, asserted that Musk's actions could clearly violate these laws.
Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer, pointed out that Musk's approach skirts legal boundaries by conditioning the payments on voter registration. He noted that if the giveaway were open to all petition signers without the voter registration requirement, it might avoid legal complications.
Michael Kang, an election law professor at Northwestern University, echoed these concerns, suggesting that the timing of Musk's giveaway, so close to Election Day, makes it difficult to argue that it isn’t an attempt to incentivize voter registration.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Musk's ambitious plan will impact the political landscape and whether it will face any legal challenges before the election.
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