Judge Orders Elon Musk to Face Lawsuit Over $1 Mn-a-Day Giveaway
In a recent development, a US judge has ordered Elon Musk to face a lawsuit accusing him of duping voters with a $1 million-a-day giveaway during the 2024 election. The plaintiff, Jacqueline McAferty, alleges that Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, wrongly induced her to provide personal information as part of the giveaway.
McAferty’s lawsuit claims that she and thousands of others were lured into giving away their personal contact information, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers, under the false promise of winning a daily $1 million prize. However, Musk had rejected claims that petition signers suffered harm by providing contact information, stating that they were fully aware of what they were signing up for.
The lawsuit, filed in May 2025, alleges that Musk and America PAC violated federal and state laws by operating an illegal lottery. The petition, which was touted as a way to “make America great again,” was promoted heavily on social media and garnered millions of signatures.
According to the complaint, McAferty was one of the millions of people who signed up for the giveaway, believing that she had a chance to win the daily $1 million prize. However, she claims that she was never notified of the actual prize winners and that her personal information was shared with third-party companies.
The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief, including an order requiring Musk and America PAC to destroy all personal information collected during the giveaway. McAferty’s lawyers argue that the giveaway was a clear violation of federal and state laws, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
Musk and America PAC have denied any wrongdoing, stating that the giveaway was legal and that petition signers were fully aware of what they were signing up for. In a statement, Musk’s lawyer claimed that the lawsuit was “baseless” and that McAferty had “voluntarily” provided her personal information.
However, the judge’s decision has dealt a blow to Musk’s defense, ruling that McAferty has presented sufficient evidence to move forward with the lawsuit. The judge’s order requires Musk and America PAC to respond to McAferty’s claims and to produce documents related to the giveaway.
This is not the first time that Musk has faced legal troubles over his political activities. In 2022, he was sued by a group of investors who claimed that he had made false and misleading statements about the future of his electric car company, Tesla. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
The latest lawsuit against Musk has sparked concerns about the use of personal information for political purposes. Experts say that the case highlights the need for stronger laws to protect consumers’ privacy and to prevent the misuse of personal data.
“This case is a wake-up call for consumers and lawmakers alike,” said Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, a non-profit organization that advocates for consumer privacy. “We need to do a better job of protecting consumers’ personal information and of preventing the misuse of data for political purposes.”
The case is also a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in political campaigns. As the 2024 election season heats up, it is more important than ever that candidates and political committees are transparent about their fundraising and spending practices, and that they respect consumers’ privacy.
As the lawsuit continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Elon Musk and America PAC will have to answer to a federal judge for their actions. Whether they will ultimately be held accountable remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the consequences of their actions will be far-reaching.
