{"id":2358752,"date":"2024-10-24T02:50:39","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T06:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-harris-doj-confirms-request-to-investigate-elon-musks-pro-trump-election-activity\/"},"modified":"2024-10-24T02:52:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T06:52:54","slug":"biden-harris-doj-confirms-request-to-investigate-elon-musks-pro-trump-election-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-harris-doj-confirms-request-to-investigate-elon-musks-pro-trump-election-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden-Harris DOJ Confirms Request to Investigate Elon Musk&#8217;s Pro-Trump Election Activity"},"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\">22<\/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%2Fbiden-harris-doj-confirms-request-to-investigate-elon-musks-pro-trump-election-activity%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=2358752&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>Former Republican \u2063officials\u200c have\u200c requested \u200bthat \u2062Attorney General Merrick Garland investigate Elon Musk&#8217;s efforts to offer cash prizes\u200c to registered voters in \u2063swing states. Musk is promoting his initiative through America PAC, where he conducts a daily \u2063lottery offering\u200b $1 million to participants who \u200csupport the First and Second Amendments by signing a petition. The petition is exclusive to registered\u2064 voters in specific states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, \u2064and North \u200bCarolina. Critics, including former Republican officials,\u200d warn that this practice may <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-education-sec-on-womens-school-sports-we-have-a-legal-responsibility-to-include-transgender-athletes\/\" title=\"Biden Education Sec On Women\u2019s School Sports: We Have a \u2018Legal Responsibility\u2019 to Include Transgender Athletes\">violate federal law<\/a>, which prohibits payments \u200bfor \u200cvoter \u200dregistration.<\/p>\n<p>In response, Musk claims that signing the petition does not require participants to vote or even belong to a political party. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">legal experts express concern<\/a> over the \u2062potential \u2063legality of these payments, suggesting they might closely align with \u2063prohibited practices. Despite\u2064 the controversy, Democratic\u2063 Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that while Musk\u2062 has the right to express his views, \u2063the financial involvement in politics \u200draises serious\u2063 concerns that warrant scrutiny. As of now, \u200bthe\u200c Department of Justice has acknowledged receipt of the letter but has not disclosed if an investigation will be initiated.  <\/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\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?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<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Former Republican Justice Department and other officials sent a letter Monday to Democratic Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting he open an investigation into billionaire Elon Musk&rsquo;s cash prizes to registered voters in swing states.<\/p>\n<p>Musk, through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/pennsylvanias-democratic-governor-angry-elon-musks-election-efforts-calls-law-enforcement-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">America PAC<\/a>, is selecting a $1 million lottery winner each day until the election to registered voters who sign a <a href=\"https:\/\/petition.theamericapac.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">petition<\/a> saying they support the First and Second Amendments.<\/p>\n<p>The petition signers must be registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Sign our petition to support the Constitution of the United States! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pYZ1B7l9SX\">https:\/\/t.co\/pYZ1B7l9SX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1848185068985921683?\">October 21, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Musk handed out the first two checks for $1 million at a Donald Trump rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Every night, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/america?\">@America<\/a> will announce another $1M winner!<\/p>\n<p>All you have to do is sign our petition in support of The Constitution. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Zsda5ao2In\">https:\/\/t.co\/Zsda5ao2In<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1848149097313964358?\">October 20, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>America PAC is also awarding <a href=\"https:\/\/petition.theamericapac.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$47<\/a> to every one who recruits a registered voter to sign the petition.<\/p>\n<p>On Monday, 11 former Republican officials sent a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/documents\/8f24d8e7-9f44-4ea3-a33d-b7de2187f438.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> to Garland, as well as the attorney general of Pennsylvania and all the district attorneys offices in the state, saying, &ldquo;We are aware of nothing like this in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/can-biden-help-unite-america\/\" title=\"Can Biden Help Unite America?\">modern political history<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Federal law, 52 U.S.C. &sect; 10307(c), imposes up to five years in prison on anyone who &lsquo;knowingly or willfully . . . pays or offers to pay or accepts payment . . . for registration to vote,&rsquo;&rdquo; they added. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/52\/10307\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legal provision <\/a>the former officials cite also carries up to a $10,000 fine for each violation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We urge you to investigate whether America PAC&rsquo;s payments are prohibited payments for voter registration. We recognize that they are framed as payments for signing a petition, or for referring voters who sign. But many of the payments are restricted to registered voters, so anyone who wishes to get paid must first register,&rdquo; the former GOP officials argued.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-announces-new-secretary-position-just-elon-musk-dying\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Musk<\/a> responded to the allegation that he was paying people to register to vote writing on X, &ldquo;All you need to do is sign the @America petition in support of the Constitutional rights to free speech &amp; bear arms to have a daily chance of winning $1,000,000! You can be from any or no political party and you don&rsquo;t even have to vote.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">All you need to do is sign the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/america?\">@America<\/a> petition in support of the Constitutional rights to free speech &amp; bear arms to have a daily chance of winning $1,000,000!<\/p>\n<p>You can be from any or no political party and you don&rsquo;t even have to vote. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vF93mBnBJd\">https:\/\/t.co\/vF93mBnBJd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/elonmusk\/status\/1848147035607998575?\">October 20, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Former GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, who has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/donald-trump-republicans-harris-christine-todd-whitman-1934633\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">endorsed<\/a> Democrat Kamala Harris for president, is among the more prominent signers of the letter urging Garland to investigate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/blade-runner-2049-studio-sues-elon-musk-wants-nothing-tech-mogul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Musk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Others include Donald Ayer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/attorney-lin-wood-defends-ag-bill-barr-after-announces-he-is-stepping-down-trump-voters-respond\/\" title=\"Attorney Lin Wood Defends AG Bill Barr After Announces He Is Stepping Down \u2014 Trump Voters Respond\">deputy attorney general<\/a> under President George H.W. Bush; Trevor Potter, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission (1991-1995); and Olivia Troye, special advisor to former Vice President Mike Pence.<\/p>\n<p>CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane posted on X that the DOJ confirmed receipt of the letter, but it did not say whether an investigation has been opened.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Justice Dept confirms receipt of the letter&hellip; but declines to comment further<\/p>\n<p>The former GOP-appointed officials want a DOJ review of Musk&rsquo;s effort<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MacFarlaneNews\/status\/1848714427551338765?\">October 22, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/pennsylvanias-democratic-governor-angry-elon-musks-election-efforts-calls-law-enforcement-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Josh Shapiro<\/a>, who previously served as attorney general of the state, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/meet-the-press\/meet-press-october-20-2024-n1310845\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> NBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;Meet the Press&rdquo; on Sunday that he finds the Musk payments &ldquo;deeply concerning.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Musk obviously has a right to be able to express his views,&rdquo; Shapiro explained. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s made it very, very clear that he supports Donald Trump. I don&rsquo;t &mdash; obviously, we have a difference of opinion. I don&rsquo;t deny him that right. But when you start flowing this kind of money into politics, I think it raises serious questions that folks may want to take a look at.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Michael Kang, an election law professor at Northwestern University&rsquo;s Pritzker School of Law, told the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/musk-1-million-giveaway-trump-voters-petition-b4e48acbfe04fde735e60b1911ad0197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press<\/a> the legality of the payments is unclear.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not quite the same as paying someone to vote,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;but you&rsquo;re getting close enough that we worry about its legality.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Republican officials have written to Democratic Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging him to investigate Elon Musk&#8217;s cash prizes for registered voters in swing states. Through his America PAC, Musk is offering a daily $1 million lottery to voters who sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. The petition is limited to registered voters in specific states<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2358753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Elon-Musk.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[22792,7076,43604,32192,4053],"class_list":["post-2358752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biden-harris","tag-doj","tag-election-investigation","tag-elon-musk","tag-pro-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Elon-Musk.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358752","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2358752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2358753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2358752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2358752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2358752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}