Reports: DOJ Warns Musk $1M Giveaway Possibly Illegal

The Facts

• The US Justice Department (DOJ) has reportedly sent a letter to America PAC — the super PAC founded by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — warning that its lottery awarding $1M to select registered voters who sign its petition in support of the First and Second Amendment could be illegal.

• Musk on Saturday announced plans to award the prize every day until the election. To be eligible voters must be registered in one of the seven swing states — Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, or North Carolina.

• Federal law forbids paying people to register to vote. However, since Sunday, the super PAC messaging around the sweepstakes has been describing the prize as payment for a job.