HOLLAND, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – It’s not every day that a knock at your door brings a $1 million check. But for Jason Cochran, a regular evening of football turned extraordinary when representatives from Elon Musk’s America PAC arrived with life-changing news.
Cochran, a Michigander living in Holland, had signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments, which qualified him for a political sweepstakes: Musk’s America PAC is offering $1 million each day from October 22nd to November 5th for registered voters in battleground states who sign its petition.
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“It’s just hard to believe still,” Cochran shared with FOX-17 West Michigan. Discussing how the whole thing came about, Cochran explained the ease of signing up by saying, “They didn’t say (who) I had to vote for…I didn’t have to vote, period. Didn’t have to vote for anyone. It’s pretty amazing to come into that just for doing something I would have done anyways.”
Despite the sudden influx of cash, Cochran plans to maintain his modest lifestyle, focusing on expanding a Christian trade school initiative he co-founded for homeschoolers.
Second Michigander wins $1 million.
Jordan Timmerman from Michigan has also won $1 million from Musk. When accepting his fake “blown-up” publicity check, he dressed in a red white and blue “flag” suit. Musk had posted about Timmerman’s windfall on his X account on Monday, October 28th saying, “Jordan from Hastings, Michigan received $1M for signing our petition to support the Constitution. Every day until Election Day, a person who signs will be selected to earn $1M as a spokesperson for America PAC.”
Timmerman is the second Michigander to win the prize in addition to Cochran. As of this article being posted, a total of 11 people have won the prize. Other states represented include Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona.
In addition to the $1 million giveaways, the PAC is also sending out money to people who refer others to sign the petition. As of October 29th, more than 87,000 checks have been sent to people who referred signers of the petition and another 100,000 checks are to be mailed on Wednesday the 30th.
Musk’s PAC faces legal trouble.
While Cochran and Timmerman celebrate their wins, Musk’s political action committee (PAC) is under scrutiny. The George Soros-backed Philadelphia District Attorney filed a lawsuit against Musk, arguing that the sweepstakes his PAC is involved in amounts to an illegal lottery designed to influence the 2024 presidential election. Participants must sign a petition to enter and critics say the cash prizes raise concerns about potential voter manipulation.
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Krasner emphasized that Pennsylvania law forbids unregulated lotteries, regardless of intent. Krasner warned what Musk is doing could compromise the “integrity” of elections.
More than just legal hurdles.
The controversy doesn’t end there. It was announced back in August that Musk’s PAC is also facing an investigation by Michigan’s Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is reviewing whether the initiative violates state election laws. Critics argue that Musk’s efforts blur the line between political support and ethical boundaries, with some seeing it as a high-stakes gamble to sway voters in battleground states.
The Biden-Harris Justice Department has also given Musk a warning that his giveaway might violate federal law according to CNN. It’s not surprising to many that Musk is under investigation by Democratic entities after endorsing Donald J. Trump for president and using millions of dollars to help get him elected.
The road ahead.
Musk remains defiant, continuing to announce daily winners on X. His PAC insists that the sweepstakes merely promotes free speech and constitutional rights. He recently defended the giveaway saying, “To be clear, this is not a petition to vote for or register for anyone. It’s really a petition in support of the Constitution of the United States, and in particular, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms.”
With less than a week left until election day, chances are that those opposed to the Musk giveaways aren’t going to have any effect on what he’s been able to do even if they get their emergency injunction on Friday.
As for Cochran, he’s just happy for the unexpected opportunity to make a difference saying, “That’s one of the great things about coming into money, knowing you can help other people.”
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