A political action committee (PAC) backed by billionaire Elon Musk is under investigation by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office for potential violations related to voter data collection efforts. The America PAC, which supports former President Donald Trump, has come under scrutiny for its methods of acquiring detailed voter information.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has publicly stated that he created and funded the America PAC, leveraging his substantial net worth of over $225 billion. The PAC has been gathering personal data from residents in Michigan and other crucial swing states through its website’s “register to vote” section. Users are prompted to submit their ZIP code, address, and phone number, but the site does not directly register voters, particularly in swing states.
A spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State’s office emphasized the importance of transparency regarding the use of personal information by PACs. "Every citizen should know exactly how their personal information is being used by PACs, especially if an entity is claiming it will help people register to vote in Michigan or any other state," she said. The office is currently reviewing the PAC’s activities to determine if any state laws have been violated, and potential violations will be referred to the Michigan Attorney General’s office.
Website Functionality Issues
A person familiar with the PAC’s operations revealed that the website links were initially functioning correctly but admitted they are not currently operational. Plans are underway to launch a new website in the coming weeks to address these issues. Despite multiple attempts to reach them, representatives for the America PAC and Musk himself did not respond to requests for comment.
Legal Perspectives
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, has been a vocal critic of election-related misinformation and has frequently clashed with former President Trump over such issues. The Republican National Committee has filed lawsuits against Benson and other Michigan Democrats multiple times this year.
Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, expressed skepticism about any legal breaches by the PAC, stating, "I am not aware of any laws being broken." However, Mary Massaron, a partner at law firm Plunkett Cooney, raised concerns about the PAC's actions. "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," she said.
Moving Forward
As the investigation progresses, it remains unclear whether the America PAC has violated any Michigan state laws. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for voter data practices and the transparency of political action committees in future elections.
