The Justice Department’s head of election crimes sent a warning letter to Elon Musk’s America PAC Monday, alerting it that it was a crime to knowingly offer anything of value to register to vote or vote, a person familiar with the warning letter told 24sight News.
Robert Heberle, the head of the Justice Department’s election crimes branch, wrote in the brief warning letter to America PAC lawyer Chris Gober, that offering anything of value to influence voting was in violation of U.S. law barring payments to sway votes.
The warning letter did not specify any immediate legal action, according to the person familiar with the DOJ warning to Musk, but it did spell out the penalties for breaking U.S. voting laws, including possible imprisonment of up to five years.
Musk, an ultra-rich Trump mega-donor, has been offering $1 million to registered voters in swing states via a sweepstakes-style petition in support of the First and Second amendments. Musk has been touting the voting sweepstakes on his super PAC’s account on X.com and at rallies.
Legal experts have said that Musk’s requirement that sweepstakes entrants show they have registered to vote very likely breaks U.S. voting laws, as longtime election law expert Rick Hasen wrote on his blog Saturday.
A copy of the sweepstakes-style petition posted on Musk’s site reviewed by 24sight News Wednesday includes a requirement that entrants show they are registered to vote in one of the seven key battleground states.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined comment Wednesday.
Musk’s America PAC lawyer, Gober, did not return calls or an email seeking comment. America PAC officials did not immediately provide comment Wednesday afternoon.
However, in previous coverage, America PAC officials have said the $1 million lottery for the petition is clearly legal.
*** This is a breaking story and will be updated. Check back for more at 24sight.news.
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