億萬富翁、特斯拉(Tesla)和SpaceX的創(chuàng)始人、X公司的所有者埃隆·馬斯克(Elon Musk)將全力支持共和黨總統(tǒng)候選人唐納德·特朗普(Donald Trump),已承諾為前總統(tǒng)特朗普提供至少7000萬美元資金幫助其競選?,F(xiàn)在,他承諾向簽署其政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)請?jiān)笗ㄖС謶椃ǎ┑倪x民發(fā)放100萬美元。
一些選舉專家對此表示質(zhì)疑,并提出警告,他們認(rèn)為將現(xiàn)金發(fā)放與簽署請?jiān)笗ㄒ筮x民登記投票)掛鉤是違法行為。
賓夕法尼亞州州長、該州前總檢察長喬什·夏皮羅(Josh Shapiro,民主黨人)上周日對該計(jì)劃表示擔(dān)憂。
他在美國全國廣播公司(NBC)的《會(huì)見新聞界》節(jié)目中表示:“在我看來,馬斯克在這場競選中如何花錢,黑錢如何不僅流入賓夕法尼亞州,而且現(xiàn)在顯然流入了賓夕法尼亞人的腰包,這種情況確實(shí)存在問題,令人深感擔(dān)憂?!?
馬斯克在做什么?
馬斯克上周六承諾,在11月5日大選之前,他將每天向簽署政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)請?jiān)笗倪x民贈(zèng)送100萬美元,該請?jiān)笗蠛灻咧С帧兜谝恍拚浮罚ūWo(hù)言論自由)和《第二修正案》(賦予“持有和攜帶武器”的權(quán)利)。上周六在賓夕法尼亞州哈里斯堡舉行的一次活動(dòng)中,他將一張支票頒發(fā)給了一位名叫約翰·德雷爾(John Dreher)的男子。上周日,記者沒有得到德雷爾留下的電話號(hào)碼的回復(fù)。馬斯克在上周日又發(fā)放了一張支票。
更大的背景是什么?
馬斯克的美國政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)(America PAC)已經(jīng)在關(guān)鍵選舉戰(zhàn)場賓夕法尼亞州展開了巡回活動(dòng)。他的目標(biāo)是讓選民登記支持特朗普,馬斯克已經(jīng)為特朗普背書。該組織還在努力說服其他關(guān)鍵州的選民。這并不是該組織第一次提供現(xiàn)金。馬斯克曾在他收購后更名為X[前身為推特(Twitter)]的平臺(tái)上發(fā)帖稱,他將向推薦他人注冊并簽署請?jiān)笗娜颂峁?7美元,后期變成提供100美元。
特朗普上周日在賓夕法尼亞州參加競選活動(dòng),當(dāng)被問及馬斯克的贈(zèng)予一事時(shí),他說:“我沒有關(guān)注此事?!碧乩势照f他“經(jīng)常與埃隆交流。他是我的朋友”,并稱他為國家做出了重大貢獻(xiàn)。
這有什么問題嗎?
一些選舉法專家對這一做法提出了警告。競選資金律師布蘭登·費(fèi)舍(Brendan Fischer)表示,馬斯克的最新贈(zèng)款舉措接近法律邊界。這是因?yàn)檎涡袆?dòng)委員會(huì)將注冊登記作為領(lǐng)取100萬美元支票的先決條件。費(fèi)舍在一封電子郵件中說:“如果每位賓夕法尼亞州請?jiān)笗灻叨加匈Y格領(lǐng)取這筆錢,那么幾乎不會(huì)有人對這項(xiàng)舉措的合法性提出質(zhì)疑,但將付款條件設(shè)定為注冊登記無疑違反了法律。”
加州大學(xué)洛杉磯分校(UCLA)法學(xué)院政治學(xué)教授里克·哈森(Rick Hasen)則更進(jìn)一步。他指出,一項(xiàng)法律禁止向選民支付報(bào)酬以換取其登記投票或投票。哈森在接受電話采訪時(shí)說:“如果他只是向人們支付報(bào)酬以讓他們簽署請?jiān)笗?,那可能是在浪費(fèi)金錢。但這種做法并不違法。問題在于,只有登記投票的選民才有資格參加這次贈(zèng)送活動(dòng)。這就構(gòu)成違法行為?!?/p>
美國西北大學(xué)普利茲克法學(xué)院(Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law)的選舉法教授邁克爾·康(Michael Kang)說,在選舉日如此接近的情況下進(jìn)行這樣的贈(zèng)送活動(dòng),很難證明此舉只是為了鼓勵(lì)人們登記投票。
康說:"這與支付報(bào)酬讓人投票還不太一樣,但已經(jīng)接近了,我們因此擔(dān)心其合法性?!?/p>
上周日,記者已經(jīng)向政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)留言尋求置評(píng),同時(shí)也向司法部發(fā)出了置評(píng)請求。
政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)和特朗普的競選團(tuán)隊(duì)能協(xié)調(diào)一致嗎?
通常情況下,競選活動(dòng)和所謂的超級(jí)政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)之間的協(xié)調(diào)努力是被禁止的。但聯(lián)邦選舉委員會(huì)(負(fù)責(zé)監(jiān)管聯(lián)邦競選活動(dòng))專員最近發(fā)表的一項(xiàng)意見允許候選人在某些情況下與這些團(tuán)體合作,包括動(dòng)員選民投票。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
億萬富翁、特斯拉(Tesla)和SpaceX的創(chuàng)始人、X公司的所有者埃隆·馬斯克(Elon Musk)將全力支持共和黨總統(tǒng)候選人唐納德·特朗普(Donald Trump),已承諾為前總統(tǒng)特朗普提供至少7000萬美元資金幫助其競選?,F(xiàn)在,他承諾向簽署其政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)請?jiān)笗ㄖС謶椃ǎ┑倪x民發(fā)放100萬美元。
一些選舉專家對此表示質(zhì)疑,并提出警告,他們認(rèn)為將現(xiàn)金發(fā)放與簽署請?jiān)笗ㄒ筮x民登記投票)掛鉤是違法行為。
賓夕法尼亞州州長、該州前總檢察長喬什·夏皮羅(Josh Shapiro,民主黨人)上周日對該計(jì)劃表示擔(dān)憂。
他在美國全國廣播公司(NBC)的《會(huì)見新聞界》節(jié)目中表示:“在我看來,馬斯克在這場競選中如何花錢,黑錢如何不僅流入賓夕法尼亞州,而且現(xiàn)在顯然流入了賓夕法尼亞人的腰包,這種情況確實(shí)存在問題,令人深感擔(dān)憂?!?
馬斯克在做什么?
馬斯克上周六承諾,在11月5日大選之前,他將每天向簽署政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)請?jiān)笗倪x民贈(zèng)送100萬美元,該請?jiān)笗蠛灻咧С帧兜谝恍拚浮罚ūWo(hù)言論自由)和《第二修正案》(賦予“持有和攜帶武器”的權(quán)利)。上周六在賓夕法尼亞州哈里斯堡舉行的一次活動(dòng)中,他將一張支票頒發(fā)給了一位名叫約翰·德雷爾(John Dreher)的男子。上周日,記者沒有得到德雷爾留下的電話號(hào)碼的回復(fù)。馬斯克在上周日又發(fā)放了一張支票。
更大的背景是什么?
馬斯克的美國政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)(America PAC)已經(jīng)在關(guān)鍵選舉戰(zhàn)場賓夕法尼亞州展開了巡回活動(dòng)。他的目標(biāo)是讓選民登記支持特朗普,馬斯克已經(jīng)為特朗普背書。該組織還在努力說服其他關(guān)鍵州的選民。這并不是該組織第一次提供現(xiàn)金。馬斯克曾在他收購后更名為X[前身為推特(Twitter)]的平臺(tái)上發(fā)帖稱,他將向推薦他人注冊并簽署請?jiān)笗娜颂峁?7美元,后期變成提供100美元。
特朗普上周日在賓夕法尼亞州參加競選活動(dòng),當(dāng)被問及馬斯克的贈(zèng)予一事時(shí),他說:“我沒有關(guān)注此事?!碧乩势照f他“經(jīng)常與埃隆交流。他是我的朋友”,并稱他為國家做出了重大貢獻(xiàn)。
這有什么問題嗎?
一些選舉法專家對這一做法提出了警告。競選資金律師布蘭登·費(fèi)舍(Brendan Fischer)表示,馬斯克的最新贈(zèng)款舉措接近法律邊界。這是因?yàn)檎涡袆?dòng)委員會(huì)將注冊登記作為領(lǐng)取100萬美元支票的先決條件。費(fèi)舍在一封電子郵件中說:“如果每位賓夕法尼亞州請?jiān)笗灻叨加匈Y格領(lǐng)取這筆錢,那么幾乎不會(huì)有人對這項(xiàng)舉措的合法性提出質(zhì)疑,但將付款條件設(shè)定為注冊登記無疑違反了法律?!?/p>
加州大學(xué)洛杉磯分校(UCLA)法學(xué)院政治學(xué)教授里克·哈森(Rick Hasen)則更進(jìn)一步。他指出,一項(xiàng)法律禁止向選民支付報(bào)酬以換取其登記投票或投票。哈森在接受電話采訪時(shí)說:“如果他只是向人們支付報(bào)酬以讓他們簽署請?jiān)笗?,那可能是在浪費(fèi)金錢。但這種做法并不違法。問題在于,只有登記投票的選民才有資格參加這次贈(zèng)送活動(dòng)。這就構(gòu)成違法行為?!?/p>
美國西北大學(xué)普利茲克法學(xué)院(Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law)的選舉法教授邁克爾·康(Michael Kang)說,在選舉日如此接近的情況下進(jìn)行這樣的贈(zèng)送活動(dòng),很難證明此舉只是為了鼓勵(lì)人們登記投票。
康說:"這與支付報(bào)酬讓人投票還不太一樣,但已經(jīng)接近了,我們因此擔(dān)心其合法性。”
上周日,記者已經(jīng)向政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)留言尋求置評(píng),同時(shí)也向司法部發(fā)出了置評(píng)請求。
政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)和特朗普的競選團(tuán)隊(duì)能協(xié)調(diào)一致嗎?
通常情況下,競選活動(dòng)和所謂的超級(jí)政治行動(dòng)委員會(huì)之間的協(xié)調(diào)努力是被禁止的。但聯(lián)邦選舉委員會(huì)(負(fù)責(zé)監(jiān)管聯(lián)邦競選活動(dòng))專員最近發(fā)表的一項(xiàng)意見允許候選人在某些情況下與這些團(tuán)體合作,包括動(dòng)員選民投票。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and Space X and owner of X who’s gone all-in on Republican Donald Trump’s candidacy for the White House, has already committed at least $70 million to help the former president. Now he’s pledging to give away $1 million to voters for signing his political action committee’s petition backing the Constitution.
The giveaway is raising questions and alarms among some election experts who say it is a violation of the law to link a cash handout to signing a petition that also requires a person to be registered to vote.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, the state’s former attorney general, expressed concern about the plan on Sunday.
“I think there are real questions with how he is spending money in this race, how the dark money is flowing, not just into Pennsylvania, but apparently now into the pockets of Pennsylvanians. That is deeply concerning,” he said on NBC’ “Meet the Press.”
What is Musk doing?
Musk promised on Saturday that he would give away $1 million a day, until the Nov. 5 election, for people signing his PAC’s petition supporting the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, and the Second Amendment, with its right “to keep and bear arms.” He awarded a check during an event Saturday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to a man identified as John Dreher. A message left with a number listed for Dreher was not returned Sunday. He gave out another check Sunday.
What’s the broader context here?
Musk’s America PAC has launched a tour of Pennsylvania, a critical election battleground. He’s aiming to register voters in support of Trump, whom Musk has endorsed. The PAC is also pushing to persuade voters in other key states. It’s not the first offer of cash the organization has made. Musk has posted on X, the platform he purchased as Twitter before renaming it, that he would offer people $47 — and then $100 — for referring others to register and signing the petition.
Trump, who was campaigning Sunday in Pennsylvania, was asked about Musk’s giveaway, and said, “I haven’t followed that.” Trump said he “speaks to Elon a lot. He’s a friend of mine” and called him great for the country.
What’s the issue with that?
Some election law experts are raising red flags about the giveaway. Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer, said the latest iteration of Musk’s giveaway approaches a legal boundary. That’s because the PAC is requiring registration as a prerequisite to become eligible for the $1 million check. “There would be few doubts about the legality if every Pennsylvania-based petition signer were eligible, but conditioning the payments on registration arguably violates the law,” Fischer said in an email.
Rick Hasen, a UCLA Law School political science professor, went further. He pointed to a law that prohibits paying people for registering to vote or for voting. “If all he was doing was paying people to sign the petition, that might be a waste of money. But there’s nothing illegal about it,” Hasen said in a telephone interview. “The problem is that the only people eligible to participate in this giveaway are the people who are registered to vote. And that makes it illegal.”
Michael Kang, an election law professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, said the context of the giveaway so close to Election Day makes it harder to make the case that the effort is anything but a incentivizing people to register to vote.
“It’s not quite the same as paying someone to vote, but you’re getting close enough that we worry about its legality,” Kang said.
A message seeking comment was left with the PAC on Sunday, as was a request for comment from the Justice Department.
Can the PAC and Trump’s campaign coordinate?
Typically coordination between campaigns and so-called super PACs had been forbidden. But a recent opinion by the Federal Election Commissioner, which regulates federal campaigns, permitted candidates and these groups to work together in certain cases, including getting out the vote efforts.