Brink attacks Maasdam after supporter files complaint over alleged AI use in PAC advertisement

A recently organized political action committee stands accused of airing an ad created using AI without the required disclosure, catching criticism from its target, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, a candidate for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. 

Michigan Values PAC, which filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission on May 22, spent $365,000 on cable ads in the Lansing, Detroit, and Flint areas, rolling out an ad attacking Brink for her role as “Donald Trump’s handpicked ambassador.”

A Lansing resident identified by Brink’s campaign as a supporter filed a campaign finance complaint accusing the PAC of using artificial intelligence to create the video, without disclosing it as required by Michigan law.

“As of June 23, 2026, Michigan Values PAC, an out of state Super PAC, is running a political ad on broadcast television in Michigan that clearly uses artificial intelligence to falsely attack Democratic candidate for Congress Bridget Brink,” the complaint reads. “The ad manipulates video of Donald Trump to make it seem as if he is holding a portfolio featuring an image of Brink – which has never occurred and was generated instead with AI.”

The ad features video from Brink’s 2019 Senate nomination hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding her nomination to serve as ambassador to the Slovak Republic. It includes a disclaimer stating it was paid for by Michigan Values PAC and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

The complaint asks the Michigan Bureau of Elections to conduct an investigation regarding the PAC’s alleged AI use and to take appropriate legal action. 

Michigan Advance analyzed the ad using two AI detection tools. One concluded the video was likely human-generated, while the other found “no strong AI-generation indicators detected.”

In response to the ad, Brink’s campaign sought to tie Michigan Values PAC to Vote Vets, a political action committee supporting Democratic military veterans. That PAC has launched a $750,000 ad buy in support of one of Brink’s opponents, former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam. In an email to Michigan Advance, the Brink campaign noted both Michigan Values PAC and Vote Vets had purchased their ads through the same ad buyer.

“Matt Maasdam and his out-of-state, dark money allies are attacking me with AI deepfakes that mislead voters about my proven record standing up to Trump,” Brink said in a statement. “This is exactly what’s wrong with politics, and voters will see straight through these lies and manipulation of the truth. I’ve spent my life facing cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, and threats from Putin, including missile and drone attacks as the first woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador in a war zone – Matt Maasdam’s attacks and AI deepfakes don’t scare me, and I’ll never back down.”

“Dark money” generally refers to donations made by politically active nonprofits, which do not have to disclose their donors.

In an attempt to reach Michigan Values PAC about the complaint, Michigan Advance contacted the phone number listed for the PAC’s custodian of records, treasurer and designated agent, and was directed to an operator at MBA Consulting, a D.C.-based consulting firm which provides compliance services for political campaigns and nonprofits. A voicemail was left requesting comment on the campaign finance complaint and inquiring whether the PAC carried any ties to Vote Vets.  

The Advance also sent an email and a later follow up to the addresses listed for the PAC asking similar questions. Both of which went unanswered. 

Emails to Vote Vets asking whether the group had any ties to Michigan Values also went unanswered. This story will be updated if responses are received.

In response to Brink’s statement, Emma Grundhauser, Maasdam’s spokesperson, pointed to Maasdam’s endorsement from End Citizens United, noting Maasdam had signed a pledge at the beginning of his campaign pledging to reject corporate PAC money, ban stock trading by members of Congress, and work to end the influence of dark money in elections if elected. 

“He challenged every candidate in this race to make those same commitments. Ambassador Brink refused,” Grundhauser said. “Matt is proud to be the only candidate in this race endorsed by End Citizens United because of his commitment to comprehensive ethics and campaign finance reform.”

Political organizer William Lawrence is also seeking the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. Alongside Maasdam, Lawrence is a member of End Citizen United’s Unrig Washington coalition.

Whoever emerges victorious following the August primary election will face U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) in November in what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested races in the nation.