Key Takeaways:

• A lawsuit alleges Elon Musk and America PAC owe over $5 million to canvassers for the 2024 election.
• Canvasser claims he is owed at least $20,000 for signatures gathered in support of petition efforts.
• Musk's PAC has faced scrutiny over its payment practices, denying wrongdoing and emphasizing their commitment to combat fraud.

A federal lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania accuses Elon Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, of failing to pay canvassers who helped gather signatures for a petition during the 2024 presidential election cycle. The suit, brought forth by an anonymous Pennsylvania resident, demands payment for allegedly unfulfilled promises made to registered voters who participated in the campaign to support then-Republican candidate Donald Trump.

According to the allegations, Musk's America PAC promised $100 to voters who signed the petition advocating for free speech and gun rights, offering an additional $100 for each successful referral of another voter. The plaintiff asserts he is owed a minimum of $20,000 for his efforts in gathering signatures and claims that repeated attempts to collect this payment have gone unanswered. The lawsuit seeks to represent over 100 individuals potentially owed compensation, totaling more than $5 million.

“This case is about a broken promise,” stated the plaintiff’s attorney, Shannon Liss-Riordan. She emphasized that the canvasser depended on payments to manage his living expenses, highlighting the emotional distress caused by the unfulfilled commitment. The lawsuit notes that while the plaintiff did receive payment for his hourly work and some referral incentives, he remains short of the owed amount for the signatures collected.

In response to the lawsuit, America PAC spokesperson Andrew Romeo defended the organization, asserting their commitment to compensating all legitimate petition signatures and noting that tens of millions have already been paid to canvassers in support of their cause. Romeo maintained that while they respect the lawsuit, they also have the responsibility to curb any potential fraud, which allows them to withhold payments under certain circumstances. Further scrutiny was directed towards Musk’s reported $200 million expenditure aimed at bolstering Trump’s campaign, suggesting a broader context of financial assertions overshadowing the legal dispute.

The case raises significant questions about fundraising practices within political campaigns, particularly regarding the treatment of grassroots supporters and volunteers. As the legal battle unfolds, the implications of this lawsuit could impact not only Musk's political efforts but also the operational frameworks of other political action committees.

For more details, visit Business Insider, HuffPost, and The Hill.