**Justice Department Flags Elon Musk's $1 Million Giveaway as Potentially Illegal**

The Justice Department has issued a warning to Elon Musk's super PAC about its recent $1 million cash prize initiative aimed at registered voters. The super PAC, which supports Donald Trump's presidential campaign, is offering substantial cash rewards to individuals who sign a petition. According to sources familiar with the situation, this activity may infringe upon federal laws that prohibit financial incentives for voter registration.

The Justice Department's letters come from its public integrity unit and have similarly been sent in the past to other businesses and organizations linking promotions to voting. These letters are designed to nudge recipients toward ensuring their activities comply with legal standards. They typically do not specify further actions but highlight possible legal risks. Both the Justice Department spokesperson and Musk’s super PAC, known as America PAC, declined to comment on the matter. This incident was initially reported by the 24Sight newsletter.

Federal law makes it illegal to offer payments in exchange for voter registration. The concept behind Musk's petition, aimed at supporting the First and Second Amendments, came from a long-time executive advising America PAC. Some campaign-finance experts and Democratic officials argue the sweepstakes likely crosses legal boundaries by seeming to incentivize voter registration.

Already, four individuals—three in Pennsylvania and one in North Carolina—have received $1 million checks as part of this initiative. Musk has pledged to continue distributing $1 million daily to one voter through to Election Day in a bid to support Trump's campaign. This echoes a precedent set in 2010 when the Justice Department warned Vince McMahon, then-owner of World Wrestling Entertainment, against offering free WWE clothing to voters, citing it as a federal offense to offer anything of value for electoral participation.

Defenders of Musk's initiative argue it is not unlawful since it rewards petition signers rather than specifically targeting voter registration. However, Musk has openly stated an objective of bolstering voter registration in Pennsylvania, restricting the petition to registered voters in battleground states. Recently, America PAC has repositioned their sweepstakes winners as "spokespeople" for the organization.

Initially, the super PAC offered a $47 reward to individuals who referred petition signers and claimed to have gathered over 1 million signatures in crucial battleground states, achieving its goal.