Judge orders Musk to testify in lawsuits over $1 million voter giveaway

Judge orders Musk to testify in lawsuits over $1 million voter giveaway
Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 14 May, 2026
Reuters

A federal judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify under oath in two proposed class-action lawsuits accusing him of misleading voters in swing states with his $1 million-a-day giveaway ahead of the 2024 U.S. election.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower ruled that Musk must answer questions in the cases, while also recommending that he and his political group, America PAC, face a fraud claim in one lawsuit over allegations they tricked voters into handing over personal information.

The lawsuits, brought by Arizona voters Joy Harvick and Jacqueline McAferty, allege Musk falsely promised that daily $1 million winners would be selected randomly from people who signed a petition backing the U.S. Constitution.

Instead, plaintiffs say the winners had no real chance of being chosen, with America PAC selecting recipients based on whether they could act as spokespeople for the campaign.

Musk launched the giveaway during a Pennsylvania town hall in October 2024 as part of his support for Donald Trump’s election campaign.

Fraud claim moves forward

Judge Hightower said it remains unclear whether Musk acted recklessly by publicly describing the payouts as “random.”

The ruling cited testimony from America PAC director Christopher Young, who said Musk’s wording did not match how the programme had been discussed internally with legal advisers.

A related breach-of-contract claim was recommended for dismissal, but the fraud allegation will now be reviewed by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, who will make the final decision.

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