WATCH: Michigan Secretary Of State Says Elon Musk Could Face Legal Troubles After One Million Dollar Giveaway To Swing State Voters

On Tuesday, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D-MI) explained on MSNBC that billionaire Elon Musk could face legal consequences for giving away millions of dollars to individual voters in swing states as Election Day approaches. Musk's one million-a-day giveaway randomly chooses a voter from one of the seven battleground states who sign Musk's political action committee's petition to support the First and Second Amendments. 

When asked about whether Musk is violating federal law with the giveaway, Benson said, "Potentially, it is illegal to pay someone to register, and it is illegal to pay someone to vote. So if that's what's happening here, I think legal authorities will look into that at the state & federal level. I think it's a bit unnerving that someone would try to manipulate the election process in this way, and again, when we look at why is this wealthy individual attacking a lowly state election official in the state of Michigan, you can't help but wonder if it is to distract from this issue and the potential legal problems that might arise." 

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Musk has campaigning on President Trump's behalf in Pennsylvania with multiple town halls over the past week sponsored by Musk's America PAC. According to the PAC's website, a petition signer from one of the seven swing states, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania, will be randomly awarded a million dollars every day until November 5. Voters can also share the petition with friends in the seven swing states to receive $47 from America PAC.

The SpaceX CEO went back and forth with Benson last week after Musk highlighted the fact, via Community Notes, that there are more registered voters in the state than eligible voters with Community Notes explaining, "Michigan had 7.9M voting-age citizens (U.S. Census Bureau) and 8.3M registered voters.  606,800 inactive voters are to be removed by 2027.  State & federal laws require officials to wait two federal elections before removal." In response to Musk's question, Benson responded, "Let's be clear: [Elon Musk] is spreading dangerous disinformation. Here are the facts: There aren't more voters than citizens in Michigan.  There are 7.2 million active registered voters and 7.9 citizens of voting age in our state. Musk is pushing a misleading number that includes 1.2 million inactive records slated for removal in accordance with the law. Don't feed the trolls."

Musk responded to Benson by claiming that she was lying to the public. "Jocelyn Michelle Benson, shame on you for blatantly lying to the public! You only plan to remove the ineligible voters AFTER this election. That necessarily means that there are far more people registered to vote than there eligible voters," Musk argued. Benson responded again to Musk, writing, "Hi [Elon Musk]. In Michigan we tell the truth and we follow the law. I suggest you do the same. For everyone else: http://michigan.gov/ElectionFacts."

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Elon Musk’s @America PAC Petition: “I think legal authorities will look into that at the state & federal level.. I think its a bit unnerving that someone would try to manipulte the election process in this way”pic.twitter.com/Bdl8ThS3dF

— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) October 22, 2024