Despite a judge’s order that “all parties must be present,” Tesla founder, X owner and billionaire Elon Musk did not appear in a Philadelphia courtroom Thursday after District Attorney Larry Krasner sued him over his super PAC’s plan to award $1 million a day to voters in key battleground states in the 2024 election.
Krasner and members of his office joined attorneys for Musk in Judge Angelo Foglietta’s civil courtroom at City Hall for a hearing Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.
Musk’s attorneys filed documents Wednesday night in the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, a federal court, requesting the matter be moved to their jurisdiction – and out of the local Court of Common Pleas. A judge granted that transfer.
Attorneys for Krasner said they would contest that recommendation.
113·24 days ago- This is a lawsuit, not criminal charges. It could be bad for Musk (see: Engoron decision) but there is no risk of arrest or jail. Yet.
- Defendants who lose lawsuits cannot be pardoned. Only criminal charges can be pardoned.
- “All parties must be present” means someone on the defendant’s side must be present. It is not unusual for only the lawyer(s) to attend.
- The case has been moved to federal court for now. But it could be moved back if the federal court decides it belongs in state court.