Elon Musk ordered to testify in voter fraud lawsuits over $1 million election giveaway

U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower in Austin, Texas, ordered Elon Musk to sit for a deposition in two class‑action lawsuits accusing his political action committee, America PAC, of defrauding voters in swing states before the 2024 presidential election. The suits, filed by Arizona plaintiffs Joy Harvick and Jacqueline McAferty, claim the promised $1 million‑a‑day “election lottery” was not random; winners were pre‑selected to serve as spokespeople for the PAC. The judge recommended that the fraud claims survive summary‑judgment review while a related breach‑of‑contract claim be dismissed. Her recommendations will be reviewed by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman.

The plaintiffs allege that voters were induced to provide personal identifying information in exchange for a chance to win, creating a potential data‑value exposure of more than $47 million. America PAC was founded by Musk to support Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, and the giveaway was announced at an October 2024 town‑hall in Pennsylvania. Musk’s lawyers have not commented on the deposition order.