Elon Musk raises controversy over payment scandal

Elon Musk has raised controversy over his recent support for former President Donald Trump in his current campaign for U.S. president. In recent news, Musk has offered $1 million in sweepstakes for voters who pledge to support First and Second Amendment freedoms in certain swing states.

Now, officials are questioning the legality of this large giveaway. It is illegal to pay people to register to vote, and the giveaway is being heavily scrutinized as possibly alluding to paying people to register.

Musk says the giveaway isn’t meant to get Republicans to register to vote. He responded to a social media post saying all he wanted to do was increase Trump’s odds of winning, noting that voters “can be from any or no political party.”

America’s PAC, Musk’s political action committee, which is a common tool for organizers to raise and spend money to help a preferred candidate, has stated that the giveaway is being advertised as payment for a job.

The winner of the money is expected to become the PAC’s spokesperson.

Although Musk has said this, officials have reviewed the PAC’s website and noted that the terms of the giveaway have not changed.

It still states that only petition signers can be randomly selected to win the $1 million prize, and they must be registered voters in Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.

Musk is also offering money to those who refer the petition to others. Initially, it was $47 per referral, but this amount has now been increased to $100.

Musk is awarding $1 million every Tuesday until Election Day. It is projected to cost the super PAC $18 million, excluding the $100 referrals.

The controversy is still being investigated by election officials, but for now, it is not being seen as illegal because he is not directly paying people to register to vote.

As the election follows, Musk is said to be planning more opportunities to advantage of the Trump political campaign.

Joy Donald is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ndj5744@psu.edu.