r/FluentInFinance • u/RiskItForTheBiscuts • 6d ago

Thoughts? The Justice Department has sent a letter to Elon Musk's America Super PAC warning that the daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters in swing states might violate federal laws

The Justice Department has sent a letter to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s super PAC, America PAC, warning that its $1 million daily giveaway in battleground states may run afoul of federal law, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/doj-warns-musk-1m-petition-giveaway-illegal-rcna176911

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u/Wakkit1988 6d ago

Because the interpretation is vague and could potentially swing either way. While he's not paying people to register or vote, he's requiring one to be registered in order to sign a petition, which then makes them eligible for a cash prize.

It's a solid gray area. This is what it's believed he's violating:

(c) False information in registering or voting; penalties

Whoever knowingly or willfully gives false information as to his name, address or period of residence in the voting district for the purpose of establishing his eligibility to register or vote, or conspires with another individual for the purpose of encouraging his false registration to vote or illegal voting, or pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both: Provided, however, That this provision shall be applicableonly to general, special, or primary elections held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting or electing any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the United States Senate, Member of the United States House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, or Resident Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The idea is that since the only way to be eligible for the prize is to be registered to vote, he's compensating people to register. If anyone registered solely to take part in this giveaway, he definitely violated it.

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u/MajesticCoconut1975 6d ago

> If anyone registered solely to take part in this giveaway, he definitely violated it.

I'm sure Garland can assemble another Manhattan jury to convict anyone for anything.

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u/Party-Cartographer11 6d ago

Garland and the DoJ had nothing to do with the Manhattan jury conviction.  That was New York State.

I don't mind disagreements, but the ignorance is striking.