A McKees Rocks woman received $1 million from billionaire Elon Musk’s political action committee — all for signing a petition.
Musk, the founder of Tesla and Space X who’s gone all-in on Republican Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, has already committed at least $70 million to help the former president. Now, he’s pledged to give away $1 million per day to voters for signing a petition supporting the First and Second amendments.
The giveaway is raising some legal concerns from experts and Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Shannon Tomei of McKees Rocks was gifted a giant check in person as Monday’s winner, according to America PAC on the social media platform X. Images on the social media platform show her smiling and holding the check. TribLive contacted Tomei, a registered nurse, on Tuesday and she was not immediately available to comment.
Shannon from McKees Rocks, PA was today’s recipient of $1M for signing our petition to support the Constitution
— America (@america) October 21, 2024
Every day until Election Day, a person who signs the petition will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAChttps://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/UwwmoRwUv8
Every day until Election Day, a person who signs the “Petition in Favor of Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms” will be selected to earn $1 million as a spokesperson for America PAC, the post said.
Petition signers are selected from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin or North Carolina, according to the petition’s website.
On Sunday, during a Musk appearance at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, another winner from the area was selected for the $1 million prize — Kristine Fishell of Pittsburgh.
Entry into the event at the theater was limited to those registered to vote in Pennsylvania who sign the online petition. Musk also owns the X social media platform.
Fishell was awarded the check by Musk himself onstage during super PAC-sponsored tour through Pennsylvania.
Kristine was today’s recipient of the $1 MILLION for signing our petition to support the Constitution
— America (@america) October 21, 2024
Every day until Election Day, a registered swing state voter who signs the petition will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC
SIGN: https://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/1mqkJ2rmvS
Those who sign the petition will receive $100, and people who refer a petition signer get $100 as well. according to the petition’s website. They are also entered into the daily lottery to win $1 million.
“Our goal is to get 1 million registered voters in swing states to sign in support of the Constitution, especially freedom of speech and the right to bear arms,” according to the petition.
The giveaway is raising questions and alarms among some election experts arguing it’s a violation of the law to link a cash handout to signing a petition that requires a person to be registered to vote, The Associated Press reported.
Shapiro expressed his concerns on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
WATCH: Every day until Election Day, Elon Musk says he’ll give $1M to a voter who has signed his super PAC’s petition “in favor of free speech and the right to bear arms.”@JoshShapiroPA: “That is deeply concerning. ... It's something that law enforcement could take a look at." pic.twitter.com/2mZY1b5YaL
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 20, 2024
“I think there are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing, not just into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians,” he told NBC. “That is deeply concerning.”
Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer, said Musk’s giveaway approaches a legal boundary.
“There would be few doubts about the legality if every Pennsylvania-based petition signer were eligible, but conditioning the payments on registration arguably violates the law,” Fischer said to the AP.
Former Republican lawmakers, Justice Department officials and advisers have asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Musk for handing out $1 million cash prizes to swing state voters if they sign his political organization’s petition, according to USA Today.
A letter, sent to Garland, argues that the prizes established by Musk as part of his effort to help elect Trump violate laws against paying people to register to vote.
