There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Elon Musk said he intended to keep his portfolio closed during the 2024 election cycle. The conspiratorial billionaire eventually changed his mind and started investing massively to support Republican candidates during the elections.

In fact, the richest man in the world even helped create a super PAC that, among other things, created a million dollar “lottery” sort of: If you’ve registered to vote in a battleground state and are willing to sign an America PAC petition, you could also receive a seven-figure check.

If this doesn’t seem entirely legal to you, you’re not alone. Like my MSNBC colleague Lisa Rubinbecause federal law already prohibits paying anyone to vote or even to register to vote, “a group of former GOP Justice Department officials even asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to open a investigation”.

We don’t know for sure if this has happened or will ever happen, although the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section reportedly contacted America PACwarning that such gifts could conflict with federal election law.

The Philadelphia district attorney’s office apparently went further. NBC News reported:

“The America PAC and Musk are urging citizens of Philadelphia – and other members of the Commonwealth (and other swing states in the upcoming elections) – to give up their personally identifiable information and make a political commitment in exchange a chance to win $1 million. It’s a lottery,” the suit claims. “And it is definitely an illegal lottery.” Under unambiguous Pennsylvania law, all Pennsylvania lotteries must be regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Time will tell when and/or if a judge will schedule a hearing in this case, although the local prosecutor is clearly counting on quick action. Watch this space.