Elon Musk ordered to attend Philadelphia court hearing over $1M voter lottery lawsuit

A judge ordered billionaire Elon Musk to appear at an emergency court hearing in Philadelphia Thursday, Oct. 31. The judge’s order Wednesday, Oct. 30, came as Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner looks to stop the Tesla and SpaceX owner from awarding million-dollar prizes to voters in the key swing state. 

The lawsuit alleges Musk and his super PAC “America” are operating an illegal lottery and trying to influence voters in the election. About two weeks ago, Musk said he would be handing out $1 million a day until Election Day on Nov. 5 to voters who signed his PAC’s petition supporting the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution.

“The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries. The DA is also charged with protecting the public from interference with the integrity of elections,” Krasner said in a statement last week. 

Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., has also called for an investigation.

Judge Angelo Foglietta of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas wrote that “all parties must be present at the time of the hearing” at 10 a.m. ET Thursday at City Hall, according to the Associated Press.

Last week, Musk spoke at a town hall at a high school in a Philadelphia suburb. He called on people to vote, saying Pennsylvania was key in this election.

“I’m here for a very important reason, which is — I can’t emphasize this enough — Pennsylvania, I think, is the linchpin in this election,” Musk said. “This election, I think, is going to decide the fate of America, and along with the fate of America, the fate of Western civilization.”