Elon Musk was ordered to appear in a Philadelphia courtroom after the city’s top prosecutor accused the world’s richest person of illegally granting $1 million to registered voters in the state.

The same day, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued Musk and his political action committee this weekthe billionaire shared a post on before election day.”

That post “immediately triggered an avalanche of messages from Musk’s supporters,” including “anti-Semitic attacks” on the prosecutor and threats of violence, lawyers from Krasner’s office told a judge Wednesday in an effort for added security during an upcoming court hearing.

“Even worse, one account responded to posts about the trial at least 19 times by inviting political violence, posting the Krasner family home address,” according to the filing, which cites a user who posted repeatedly on X that “Krasner loves visitors. Mask up and leave all cell phones at home.

“These messages, which are unquestionably criminal … remain posted today on Musk’s X website,” the complaint states.

Hours later, Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta moved Friday’s scheduled hearing on the suit to Thursday morning, in a courtroom inside City Hall .

The judge ordered that all parties be present, meaning Musk and his representatives. Donald Trump-Support for America PAC must be present.

THE trial marks the first legal action against the billionaire’s stunt, which offered people who signed his PAC’s petition in support of First and Second Amendment rights the chance to win a daily million-dollar drawing.

But the drawing is only open to registered voters in seven swing states, drawing warnings from election law experts and civil rights groups that the project could be considered an illegal vote-buying operation, creating a backdoor incentive to get people to register to vote.

Krasner’s office accused Musk of running an “illegal lottery scheme” to influence voters, and argued that only the state of Pennsylvania may administer lotteries.

Krasner also argued that Musk’s claim that the prize is a “random” drawing “appears to be false,” according to the lawsuit. “Several selected winners are individuals who showed up at Trump rallies in Pennsylvania,” the lawsuit adds.

The stunt was also the subject of a warning from the Justice Department.

Musk, meanwhile, defended the contest, saying the petition is not designed to register people to vote and is simply a “petition in support of the Constitution of the United States , and in particular freedom of expression and the right to bear arms.” » he declared on X last week.

Pennsylvania is at the center of a growing body of litigation surrounding the 2024 election, including a Trump campaign lawsuit in Bucks County that claims voters submitting mail-in ballots in person were turned away.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt denied the claims and a judge ensured those voters could submit their absentee ballots. The incident affected three people, according to court records.

The Independent requested comment from America PAC and X representatives.