A Pennsylvania judge has allowed Elon Musk's $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes to continue through the presidential election, despite concerns from District Attorney Larry Krasner that it is a scam to influence the election. Musk's political action committee claims the winners are pre-selected spokespeople, not chosen by chance, and the initiative is a form of political speech. The sweepstakes, which requires participants to sign a petition supporting the U.S. Constitution, has drawn over a million registrants from key swing states.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has shaped the upcoming criminal trial of former President Donald Trump by ruling on what evidence and topics may be presented to the jury. The judge has emphasized that the trial is mostly about an alleged attempt to influence an election, while also considering the relevance of sexual misconduct allegations. The judge has allowed testimony about the "Access Hollywood" tape but has barred the actual footage from being shown to the jury, and is still deliberating on whether to allow testimony about multiple women who accused Trump of sexual assault.
Three super PACs funded by leaders in the cryptocurrency industry are starting 2024 with a combined $78 million as they aim to influence the upcoming election cycle. Despite recent challenges, the cryptocurrency industry is determined to support pro-crypto candidates running for seats in the House and Senate. The super PACs, known as Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs, have raised significant funds from influential players in the crypto space, including Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase, and Ripple. While their specific endorsements for next year are unknown, the Fairshake super PAC has already spent over $1 million on television advertisements supporting lawmakers with a history of supporting the crypto industry, including House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry.
