A judge has mandated that all involved parties, including Elon Musk, appear at a court hearing in Philadelphia on Thursday regarding a lawsuit aimed at halting a political action committee (PAC) controlled by Musk from distributing $1 million to registered voters in key battleground states ahead of the U.S. election on November 5.
The lawsuit was filed by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on Monday.
It characterises the cash giveaway by Musk’s America PAC, which supports former President Donald Trump, as an “illegal lottery” designed to lure Pennsylvania residents into providing personal information.
“It is further ordered that all parties must be present at the time of the hearing,” a judge wrote on Wednesday in an order with the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. The hearing in the case was moved up to Thursday morning from Friday.
Donald Trump is in a closely contested race for the White House against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, according to recent polls.
A representative from America PAC did not respond promptly to a request for comment, nor have Musk’s representatives addressed enquiries on the matter.
Musk has made headlines by pledging to award $1 million daily to individuals who sign his online petition advocating for free speech and gun rights.
However, legal experts consulted by Reuters last week expressed differing opinions on whether this initiative could violate federal laws prohibiting payments for voter registration.
According to CNN, the Justice Department has issued a warning letter to America PAC, indicating that Musk’s financial incentives for registered voters who endorse his petition could be in violation of federal regulations.
The Trump campaign heavily relies on external organisations for voter outreach, making the superPAC established by Musk—who is the wealthiest individual in the world—an influential player in what is anticipated to be an extremely close election.