{"id":2357428,"date":"2024-10-21T09:50:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musks-1-million-giveaway-could-be-headed-for-legal-doom-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-21T09:52:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:52:50","slug":"musks-1-million-giveaway-could-be-headed-for-legal-doom-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musks-1-million-giveaway-could-be-headed-for-legal-doom-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Musk\u2019s $1 million giveaway could be headed for legal doom &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmusks-1-million-giveaway-could-be-headed-for-legal-doom-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2357428&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Elon Musk&#8217;s recent initiative offering a $1 million giveaway to voters who sign his petition is\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgias-ban-on-gender-surgeries-for-minors-takes-effect-under-looming-legal-threat\/\" title=\"Georgia&#039;s ban on gender surgeries for minors is now in effect, despite facing potential legal challenges.\">facing potential legal challenges<\/a>. The campaign, which commenced over the weekend, involves signing a petition that pledges support for the First\u2062 and Second Amendments, with\u2063 the aim of promoting voter registrations in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-more-votes-than-voters-in-key-swing-states\/\" title=\"Trump: More Votes Than Voters in Key Swing States\">key swing states<\/a> like Arizona, \u200dGeorgia, and Pennsylvania. However, critics argue that the\u200b giveaway could be interpreted as a form of bribery, an\u2062 action that is illegal under federal law, which prohibits offering \u200bpayment\u200c in exchange for voter registration.<\/p>\n<p>Government officials,\u2063 including\u200d Pennsylvania&#8217;s Governor Josh Shapiro, \u2064have expressed concerns about the legality of Musk&#8217;s approach, suggesting it may attract legal scrutiny from law enforcement. Legal experts have labeled Musk&#8217;s giveaway as &#8220;illegal vote \u2063buying,&#8221; noting the \u200ccrucial \u200bdistinction between incentives that facilitate voting\u2014like paid leave on\u2062 Election Day\u2014and those that could unduly\u2064 influence voter registration. As the election approaches, this controversy\u2063 raises important questions about \u2062the intersection of financial incentives and electoral integrity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Musk&rsquo;s $1 million giveaway could be headed for legal doom<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1755244\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Tesla CEO <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Elon Musk<\/a>&lsquo;s daily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3196144\/elon-musk-1-million-dollar-givewaway-swing-state-voters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"million dollar giveaway\">$1 million giveaway<\/a> for voters who sign his petition looks like it&rsquo;s running straight into legal trouble.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Saturday was the first day Musk gave a random petition signer the cash award. Signers of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3179028\/musk-pac-47-swing-state-voter-referral-sign-free-speech-petition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"petition\">petition<\/a> would be pledging their support for the First and Second Amendments, which have been Musk&rsquo;s cited reasons for endorsing former President Donald Trump. They also must already be registered voters in any one of the seven <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/swing-states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"swing states\">swing states<\/a>: Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, or Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>However, some are arguing that Musk is appearing to bribe people to register to vote. While his giveaway will continue until the election on Nov. 5, its inception near Pennsylvania and Michigan&rsquo;s deadline to register on Monday has raised the alarm for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usa-today-worries-about-anonymous-juries-following-chauvin-verdict\/\" title=\"USA Today Worries About Anonymous Juries Following Chauvin Verdict\">legal experts worried<\/a> about whether Musk is breaking the law with his gambit.<\/p>\n<p>It is against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/USCODE-2023-title52\/pdf\/USCODE-2023-title52-subtitleI-chap103-sec10307.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"federal law\">federal law<\/a> to pay or offer to pay in exchange for a registration to vote. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) called the giveaway &ldquo;deeply concerning&rdquo; on Sunday while on <em>Meet the Press, <\/em>and he said it could become &ldquo;something that law enforcement could take a look at.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>UCLA School of Law political science professor Rick Hasen referred to that strategy as &ldquo;clearly illegal vote buying&rdquo; in a <a href=\"https:\/\/electionlawblog.org\/?p=146397\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"blog post\">blog post<\/a>. However, he pointed out that paid leave on Election Day or free rides to polling stations are alright within the law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Such things are given to make it easier for people to vote, not to induce them to do so. This distinction is important,&rdquo; Hasen wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Petitions are federally protected under the First Amendment. Their inclusion in the Constitution leaves no legal requirement surrounding petitions. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/musks-pac-offers-47-for-every-swing-state-voter-referral-to-sign-free-speech-petition-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Musk\u2019s PAC offers  for every swing-state voter referral to sign free speech petition - Washington Examiner\">petition doesn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t register people to vote or require anyone to show up at a polling place on Election Day.&nbsp;While the petition requires an email address and a cellphone number to sign it, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/petition.theamericapac.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>&nbsp;promises to use the number only &ldquo;to confirm you are the legitimate petition signer. No other purpose.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms,&rdquo; the website reads.<\/p>\n<p>Musk&rsquo;s America PAC is additionally offering $47 for every referral that results in a signature via his pro-Trump&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3162649\/elon-musk-super-pac-website-swing-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">super PAC<\/a>. The referral deadline is also on Monday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1755244\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1755244\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Musk&#8217;s $1 million giveaway for petition signers faces legal issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2631,"featured_media":2357430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/100524_SALENA_MUSK_BUTLER_SMALL_EDIT-2-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7653,32779,4250,32076],"class_list":["post-2357428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-giveaway","tag-legal-issues","tag-musk","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/100524_SALENA_MUSK_BUTLER_SMALL_EDIT-2-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2357428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2631"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2357428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2357428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2357430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2357428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2357428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2357428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}