Big win for Elon Musk as judge refuses to shut down his $1mn lottery scheme

A Pennsylvania judge hasrejected a bidto shut down US billionaire Elon Musk’s $1m lotteryscheme in swing states, news agency AP reported Tuesday (Nov 5).

Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta ruled that the controversialscheme can continue through Tuesday’s presidential election.

The ruling came after Musk's attorneys stressed that the winners of the schemeare not announced at randombut are instead paid spokespeople for the group.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier had dubbed the scheme'a scam' that violatedstate election law and asked that it be shut down.Krasner’s team also launched tirades atMusk’s political team, calling them“shysters” who are running a “scam” and “grift”.

Musk and his lawyers, on the other hand, saidKrasner's actions were nothing less than a“publicity stunt” and accused the Democrat of pursuing the case because he didn't support Musk's advocacy for Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee.

Winners not picked by chance

Earlier, during the day-long hearing, Musk's lawyers told the court that the $1mn-a-day scheme winners were not selected by chance.

“There is no prize to be won,” said Musk lawyer Chris Gober. “We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow,” the lawyer added.

Watch:US Elections 2024: Are Opinion Polls As Big A Hoax In America As They Were In India, Britain?

He said the $1mn award money given to 'winners' was actually a compensation amount in exchange for their services as a spokesman for Musk's pro-Trump political group.

This contradicts Musk's previous statement on the scheme, wherehe said:“We are going to be awarding $1 million randomly to people who have signed the petition.”

(With inputs from agencies)