Elon Musk seems to have dropped his contentious lottery initiative aimed at motivating voters in swing states following a stern letter from the US Department of Justice. 

The tech billionaire, supporting the Trump campaign, pledged to donate $1 million daily to a registered voter in crucial battleground states up until November 5. Winners will be selected randomly from a roster of individuals who signed a petition committing to uphold free speech and gun rights. 

The founder of Tesla and SpaceX launched his electoral sweepstake on Saturday in Pennsylvania and has already declared four winners. Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, intended to launch it in Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina this week. 

Quiet Airwaves 

On Wednesday, no winner was declared, coinciding with CNN's report that the Justice Department had contacted Musk's super PAC, America PAC, cautioning that the lottery could be unlawful. 

It’s not entirely certain if the warning caused America PAC to be unusually quiet about the lottery on Wednesday. 

In the past, winners were celebrated with excitement, but by Thursday, any reference to the lottery had been eliminated from the America PAC website. Musk did not bring it up on X, the social media platform that he owns. 

According to federal law, it is a crime that can result in a prison sentence of up to five years to “pay or propose payment for registration to vote or for casting a vote.” 

In Pennsylvania, individuals who signed Musk’s petition received $100 just for providing their information, along with an additional $100 for every person they referred who also signed. 

The Election Crimes Manual from the Justice Department indicates that vote-buying constitutes a bribery crime according to the US Constitution. It explicitly encompasses “lottery opportunities,” as a forbidden incentive. 

‘Profoundly Worrying’ 

On Sunday, Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, called the lottery “deeply troubling.” Musk responded on X that it was “worrying that he would express such an opinion.” 

America PAC has turned down media inquiries regarding recent events, but a spokesman stated earlier this week that the lottery was legal.

"The PAC is confident in the legality of this initiative and the predictable media meltdown is only helping America PAC’s efforts to support President Trump [sic],” the spokesman said.

Musk has committed to allocate $75 million to back Trump’s campaign. Earlier this month, he stood on stage with the ex-president at a rally in Butler, Pa., where there was an assassination attempt on Trump in July.