Judge orders Elon Musk to testify in $1 million voter giveaway lawsuit

Key Points:

• A federal judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify under oath in two proposed class-action lawsuits accusing him of misleading voters with a $1 million-a-day election giveaway promoted by his political action committee, America PAC.
• U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower recommended allowing a fraud claim to proceed, alleging Musk and America PAC falsely advertised the giveaway as random to collect personal information, while recommending dismissal of a breach-of-contract claim.
• The lawsuits, filed by Arizona residents, claim Musk misled voters in seven battleground states during the 2024 presidential campaign by stating winners would be chosen randomly, though evidence suggests winners were selected as potential spokespeople for America PAC.
• Musk created America PAC to support Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and announced the giveaway during an October town hall event; the judge noted uncertainty about whether Musk acted recklessly in describing the payouts as random.
• U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman will decide whether to adopt the magistrate judge's recommendations and rule on Musk and America PAC's motion to dismiss one of the lawsuits.