Michigan Secretary of State looking into Elon Musk-backed PAC

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is investigating a political action committee backed by billionaire Elon Musk, CNBC reports .

The Tesla and SpaceX owner said he created and helped fund America PAC, which supports former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

In battleground states like Michigan, the PAC has been collecting information like ZIP codes, addresses and phone numbers from people who go to its “register to vote” page. Then the user is taken to a page that says “thank you” and asks them to “complete the form below” to finish the voter registration process, according to CNBC.

However, CNBC says as of Sunday afternoon, there was no form below the words “thank you” on the website.

The Michigan Secretary of State’s office is reviewing America PAC’s activities to see if they’ve violated state law.

“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,” a spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office said in a statement to CNBC.

A source who has direct knowledge of the PAC’s operations anonymously told CNBC that after America PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission in May, the links on the website were working, but admitted now they are not. That person said the group is planning to launch a new website in the next few weeks.

News 8 visited the website Monday afternoon and saw a notice advising users who can’t complete the process to try again or email info@theamericapac.org for help.

America PAC’s Privacy Notice posted on its website, reads, in part:

“If you do submit information to us, we will use that information for the purposes for which it was submitted. … for voter registration applications, we may collect and use personally identifiable information to assist you in completing and submitting your applications. Information collected is used for the promotion of America PAC’s political activities.

“We may also use your information in other ways, such as to contact you about other activities and/or fundraising campaigns … we may share or transfer your information with other like-minded organizations or entities for similar purposes.”

CNBC reached out to a spokesperson for the America PAC, who declined to comment. Musk did not return their emails for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.