Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, center, leaves after a hearing at City Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
Ryan Collard | Bloomberg | Getty Images
philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner testified Monday Tesla CEO Musk His PAC knew they were doing something “illegal” draw lots by giving up 1 million US dollars Available to registered voters in Pennsylvania and other battleground states before Election Day.
“We’re seeing, in my opinion, what I consider to be incriminating knowledge,” Krasner testified at a court hearing in which he requested an injunction to stop Musk’s giveaways. American PACwhich is supported Donald Trump opposition in presidential election Kamala Harris.
“They know what they’re doing is illegal and they’re doing everything they can to clean it up,” Krasner said.
“There is no First Amendment right to commit a crime,” the district attorney testified in court. Philadelphia County Court of Civil Claims. “There is no First Amendment right to commit fraud.”
Asked by attorney John Summers, who represents Krasner’s office, the district attorney said the fact that he is a Democrat is inconsistent with his indictment last week of suing billionaire Musk and American Politics over the daily giveaway. The lawsuit is scheduled for Tuesday regardless of America PAC’s decision.
Krasner also said under questioning that he drives a Tesla and has owned one since 2016.
“I like Teslas,” the district attorney testified.
Asked if he would sue pop stars Taylor SwiftKrasner said if she supported Harris and offered a $1 million bonus like Musk did, he would.
He noted that he has sued Democrats in the past.
Krasner’s lawsuit accuses Musk and his political action committee of violating Pennsylvania’s consumer protection laws and lottery laws and requires participants to sign a petition supporting the Constitution.
“We’re in court today because some of the district attorneys in Philadelphia want to silence Elon Musk because of his support for Donald Trump,” PAC treasurer Chris Gober told reporters before the hearing.
“Let me be clear about one thing. No district attorney, no prosecutor, I don’t care how powerful they are, can take away the First Amendment freedoms that are the bedrock of this country,” Gober said.
Gober later testified that the PAC’s giveaways did not meet the elements of an illegal lottery because “there was no prize to be won. Instead, we were creating a contractual obligation to serve as a spokesperson for the PAC.”
Gober also testified that while Musk used the word “random” to describe how recipients were selected, the word “is used interchangeably with ‘chance.'”
“We ask people to sign the petition and recommend others to sign the petition,” Gober testified. “Then we gather those people across the country and identify which one of them is going to serve as an effective spokesperson, and then we work with They enter into contractual obligations.”
“We know exactly who will be announced as the million-dollar winner today and tomorrow,” he testified.
District Attorney Summers seized on Gober’s testimony as a “candid admission of responsibility” in the lawsuit.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
Gary Grumbach reported from Philadelphia and Dan Mangan reported from New York.
