PHILADELPHIA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Elon Musk has been

ordered to attend a Thursday hearing in a prosecutor's lawsuit

to block the billionaire's $1 million-a-day giveaway to

registered swing state voters ahead of the U.S. election on Nov.

5.

The hearing before Judge Angelo Foglietta concerns

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's bid to halt the

giveaway less than a week before the tightly contested U.S.

presidential election between Republican former president Donald

Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Krasner, who championed progressive causes when running for

district attorney, accuses Tesla CEO Musk, a Trump

supporter, and his political action committee America PAC of

hatching an "illegal lottery scheme to influence voters."

Musk promised to give $1 million a day to randomly selected

people who signed a petition pledging support for free speech

and gun rights. Signatories were required to be registered

voters in one of seven states that will likely decide the

outcome of the Nov. 5 election - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan,

Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Musk gave away the first $1 million to an attendee of an

Oct. 19 rally hosted by America PAC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Krasner's Oct. 28 lawsuit alleges the giveaway amounts to an

illegal lottery unsanctioned by the state, which has sole

authority to run and regulate them. The suit also says it

violates consumer protection laws by "deploying deceptive, vague

or misleading statements" about its rules.

"Running an illegal lottery and violating consumer

protections is ample basis for an injunction and concluding that

America PAC and Musk must be stopped, immediately, before the

upcoming Presidential Election on November 5," the suit said.

Musk and America PAC's lawyers did not immediately respond

to a request for comment.

Some legal experts have said Musk's giveaway could also

potentially violate federal laws against paying people to vote

or register to vote. Others say he is in the clear because

people are only required to sign a petition to enter.

Krasner's lawsuit was brought in a Pennsylvania state court

and does not allege the giveaway violates federal law.

The U.S. Department of Justice warned America PAC the

giveaway could violate federal law, multiple news outlets

reported last week, although federal prosecutors have not taken

any action publicly.

Musk, ranked by Forbes as the world's richest person, has so

far given nearly $120 million to America PAC, according to

federal disclosures, making the group a crucial part of Trump's

bid to regain the White House.

The entrepreneur has increasingly supported Republican

causes and this year became an outspoken Trump supporter.

Trump in turn has said that if elected, he would appoint

Musk to head a government efficiency commission.