A political action committee (PAC) backed by billionaire Elon Musk is currently under investigation by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office due to its efforts to collect voter data. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has stated that he created and funded America PAC, which supports former President Donald Trump. Musk’s net worth exceeds $225 billion, according to Forbes.
The committee has been gathering detailed voter information from residents in Michigan and other battleground states through a “register to vote” section on its website. Users can submit their ZIP code, address, and phone number. However, Michigan residents who attempt to register are only met with a “thank you” page, without any further instructions to complete the voter registration process.
A spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State’s office emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the use of personal information by PACs, especially those claiming to assist with voter registration. She stated that the department is reviewing America PAC’s activities to determine if state laws have been violated and will refer any potential violations to the Michigan Attorney General’s office.
CNBC initially reported on the PAC’s misleading voter registration efforts, noting that the site does not directly register people to vote in swing states. A person with direct knowledge of the PAC’s operations mentioned that the website links were functioning correctly at one point but are now broken. This individual, who requested anonymity, also revealed that the PAC plans to launch a new website in the coming weeks.
America PAC’s spokesman declined to comment on the matter, and Musk did not respond to emails seeking comment.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat and the state’s chief election official, has been an outspoken critic of election-related misinformation. She has previously challenged statements made by former President Trump. The Republican National Committee has sued Benson and other Michigan Democrats multiple times this year.
### Legal Ambiguities
The investigation raises questions about potential legal violations. Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, expressed doubts about any state laws being broken. “I am not aware of any laws being broken,” McQuade stated in an email.
Mary Massaron, a partner at law firm Plunkett Cooney, shared her concerns but did not definitively state whether the PAC could be in violation of state laws. “It is very troubling for any candidate or PAC-funded project to deliberately fail to provide information or a link to register to vote when someone asks because they would potentially vote for the opposing candidates,” Massaron commented in an email.
The situation remains under scrutiny as the Michigan Secretary of State’s office continues its investigation into the PAC’s practices.
Credit: CNBC
