Despite a judge’s order that “all parties must be present,” Tesla founder, X owner and billionaire Elon Musk says did not appear in a Philadelphia courtroom Thursday District Attorney Larry Krasner sued him over his super PACs plan to allocate $1 million per day to voters in key battleground states in the 2024 elections.
Krasner and members of his office joined Musk’s lawyers at 10 a.m. ET Thursday in Judge Angelo Foglietta’s civil courtroom at City Hall for a hearing.
Musk’s lawyers filed papers Wednesday evening in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, a federal court, asking that the case be moved into their jurisdiction — and out of the local Court of Common Pleas. A judge allowed that transfer.
Attorneys for Krasner said they would challenge that recommendation.
“We will go to federal court and try to address the issues there and have them heard in state court. This is a case that deals with state law issues, and I will leave it at that,” said attorney John Summers.
Musk, who campaigned with former President Donald Trumphas donated tens of millions of dollars to America PAC, a super PAC formed this summer to support the Republican candidate.
The lottery prize goes to signers of a petition asking voters to support freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. At least 12 people have received $1 million prizes, including four from Pennsylvania, according to the super PAC’s website.
“The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is charged with protecting the public from public nuisance and unfair business practices, including illegal lotteries. The district attorney is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections,” Krasner said in a statement after the civil suit. was announced.
Days before Krasner filed the suit, the Justice Department sent a letter to the super PAC warning that it may violate federal laws on voter payments.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
