Elon Musk's political committee under investigation for voter data collection
The America PAC, a political action committee (PAC) backed by billionaire Elon Musk, is under investigation by the Michigan Secretary of State's office. The probe is centered around potential violations of state laws related to the collection of detailed voter information. This data has been gathered from residents in Michigan and other key states through a "register to vote" section on the PAC's website. Musk has created and helped fund the America PAC, which is supporting Donald Trump's presidential bid.
PAC's voter registration process raises concerns
The America PAC's website prompts users to provide their ZIP code, address, and phone number after selecting the "register to vote" option. However, upon submission of this information, users are redirected to a page thanking them and instructing them to complete another form to finalize their voter registration. As of Sunday afternoon, no such additional form was available on the site.
Michigan authorities review America PAC's activities
The Michigan Secretary of State's office is currently reviewing the activities of the America PAC to determine if any state laws have been violated. A spokeswoman for the office emphasized that "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 also noted that potential violations would be shared with the Michigan Attorney General's office.
Legal experts weigh in on America PAC's activities
The investigation is still in its early stages and it remains unclear whether any specific laws have been violated. Barbara McQuade, former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, stated in an email on Sunday: "I am not aware of any laws being broken." Mary Massaron, a partner at law firm Plunkett Cooney, expressed concerns about the PAC's activities but did not specify whether they could constitute a breach of state laws.
America PAC acknowledges website issues, plans update
An individual aware of the PAC's operations told CNBC that links on the committee's website were not functioning as intended. However, they revealed plans for a new website to be launched in the coming weeks.
