The Daily Populous Monday August 5th, 2024 morning edition
Authored by cnbc.com and submitted by CrispyMiner

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, applauds as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., July 24, 2024.

A political action committee backed by billionaire Elon Musk is being investigated by the Michigan secretary of state's office amid efforts to collect voter data.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has said he created and helped fund the America PAC, which is supporting former President Donald Trump. Musk has a net worth of over $225 billion, according to Forbes.

The committee has been acquiring detailed voter information from those living in Michigan and other battleground states after people submit their personal data through a section on the PAC's website that says "register to vote."

After clicking on the "register to vote" tab on America PAC's website, users in states like Michigan can submit a ZIP code, address and phone number. People with a Michigan address are brought to a page that says "thank you" and asks users to "complete the form below" to help wrap up the voter registration process. As of Sunday afternoon, though, there was no other form to complete below the words "thank you."

"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.

"While the America PAC is a federal political action committee, the Department is reviewing their activities to determine if there have been any violations of state law. We will refer potential violations to the Michigan Attorney General's office as appropriate," the spokeswoman added.

CNBC first reported on the group's efforts and how the site does not directly register people to vote for those with an address in a swing state.

A person with direct knowledge of the PAC's operations told CNBC that, at one point since the group registered with the Federal Election Commission in May, the links on the website were functioning properly — but admits now they're not.

The group is planning to launch a new website in the coming weeks, this person explained. The person declined to be named in order to speak freely about private matters.

A spokesman for the America PAC declined to comment. Musk did not return emails seeking comment.

Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, is Michigan's secretary of state and the lead election official in the state. She has been a vocal opponent of election-related misinformation and taken on such statements made by former President Donald Trump.

The Republican National Committee has sued Benson and other Michigan Democrats at least twice this year, according to legal records.

Thugnificent83 on August 4th, 2024 at 22:33 UTC »

Is this the PAC that was doing fake voter registration shit? Like how in the hell is that not a crime of some sort?

yhwhx on August 4th, 2024 at 22:19 UTC »

I was very pleased to learn that someone is doing something about this!

See also "'How Is This Legal?' Elon Musk's Pro-Trump Super PAC Accused of Voter Deception"

FUD-detector on August 4th, 2024 at 22:14 UTC »

He’s going to post the most unhinged Twitter tweet ever if he hasn’t already lol