A political action committee (PAC) associated with billionaire Elon Musk is currently under investigation in Michigan for potential violations of state regulations, according to a statement from the Michigan secretary of state’s office on Sunday.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, had previously mentioned establishing a PAC aimed at supporting political candidates, but he has not committed any specific endorsements.
The Musk-affiliated America PAC has been gathering extensive voter information from Michigan residents and others through a section on its website labeled “register to vote,” as reported by CNBC.
Although America PAC operates as a federal political action committee, the Michigan Department of State is examining its activities to determine if any state laws have been breached. Any potential violations identified will be referred to the Michigan Attorney General’s office, according to a statement provided to Reuters by a spokesperson for Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan secretary of state.
The spokesperson emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “It’s crucial for citizens to understand how their personal information is being used by PACs, especially when claims are made about assisting with voter registration in Michigan or elsewhere.”
The investigation by the Michigan Department of State is in its preliminary phase, and no specific areas of focus have been confirmed at this time, the spokesperson noted.
The Michigan Attorney General’s office and America PAC have not yet responded to requests for comment, and attempts to reach Musk for comment have been unsuccessful.
Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, has openly expressed support for Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race. In recent years, Musk has voiced right-leaning opinions, criticizing diversity initiatives, President Biden’s immigration policies, and claiming that Democrats have shown indifference towards Tesla and SpaceX.