Elon Musk Skips Court Appearance in Philadelphia Lottery Lawsuit
Despite a judge's order requiring all parties to be present, Tesla founder and billionaire Elon Musk did not appear in a Philadelphia courtroom on Thursday. This comes after District Attorney Larry Krasner sued Musk over his super PAC's plan to award $1 million a day to voters in key battleground states during the 2024 election.
Krasner and his team, along with Musk's attorneys, were present at the hearing held by Judge Angelo Foglietta at Philadelphia's City Hall. However, Musk's legal team had filed documents the previous night requesting the case be moved from the local Court of Common Pleas to the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. This request was granted, but Krasner's attorneys contested the decision.
A federal judge later ordered Musk's legal team to respond to Krasner's request to return the case to state court by Friday at 10 a.m. "We will proceed to federal court and address the issues there, seeking to have the matter remanded back to the state court," said John Summers, an attorney for Krasner. "This is a case that involves state law issues."
Musk, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, has donated millions of dollars to America PAC, a super PAC formed to support Republican candidates. The PAC's lottery awards $1 million to signers of a petition advocating for free speech and the right to bear arms. According to their website, at least 12 people have received the award, including four from Pennsylvania.
"The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries," Krasner stated after filing the lawsuit. "The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections."
This lawsuit follows a letter sent by the Justice Department to the super PAC, warning them of potential violations of federal laws related to paying voters.