Elon Musk speaks at a pro-Trump town hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he begins by accusing Democrats of “sedition.”
The billionaire then hands over a $1 million check to the viewer who signed his online petition, promising to distribute the amount daily to signatories in swing states until the November election.
The petition allows Musk’s pro-Trump campaign group America PAC to collect contact information for more potential voters to reach the former president’s polling places.
Trump has said that if elected, he would appoint Musk to head the government efficiency commission.
Earlier in the evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the gift giving was “deeply disturbing” and “something law enforcement can look into.”
According to Reuters, election law experts pointed to various provisions of federal law that prohibit cash payments to voters.
It is a federal crime to pay people to induce or reward them to vote or register, a crime punishable by prison, the news agency said, citing the Justice Department’s handbook on voting crimes.
The ban covers not only monetary expenses, but also everything that has monetary value, such as alcohol or lottery tickets.
The petition Musk is being asked to sign reads: “The First and Second Amendments guarantee free speech and the right to bear arms. By signing below, I declare my support for the First and Second Amendments.”
