Mary Peltola, the Democratic candidate in Alaska’s Senate race, denied knowing about any attempt to recruit another candidate when she addressed the allegations at a campaign event. “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent,” Peltola said. “I am not interested in tricking voters.”
The Justice Department has accelerated a criminal investigation after a New York Times report alleged that Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were involved in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whose name resembles that of the incumbent Republican senator, Dan Sullivan.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher from the small fishing community of Petersburg, announced his Senate candidacy in June. He said he had had “Zero, none, zilch” contact with Peltola’s campaign.
A state elections official ruled him ineligible for the primary ballot, finding that his candidacy declaration had been filed “with a purpose to confuse or mislead.” The Alaska Supreme Court later found he was qualified to run.
Voters will see the incumbent listed as “Dan S. Sullivan”, a “registered Republican” and “incumbent”. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. will have no party affiliation beside his name.
On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Democratic operatives affiliated with Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had allegedly recruited Sullivan Jr. as a spoiler candidate. The report cited 12 sources, text messages and documents that allegedly showed campaign members, lawyers for Peltola and senior committee aides trying to find such a candidate.
Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager, told the Times that campaign aides had been instructed to look for people named “Dan Sullivan” who could enter the race and confuse voters. Rios said Peltola had no direct role in the effort, though she was “definitely aware” of it.
The criminal investigation had already been under way for “several months” before the Times report. Prosecutors are examining whether to bring charges alleging a conspiracy to violate voters’ rights.
Within 24 hours of the revelations, the Justice Department issued at least 30 grand jury subpoenas.
Michael Heyman, the US Attorney for the District of Alaska, announced at a press conference in Anchorage that the department was sending additional federal law enforcement resources to the state. “This new information has resulted in a significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska,” Heyman said. Several attorneys from his office have been assigned to the matter.
Heyman had been recused while the White House considered him for a judicial nomination. He was recently returned to the investigation after the White House nominated someone else.
Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into whether members of Peltola’s campaign should face criminal charges and directed the Department of Public Safety to examine whether the alleged effort violated Alaska law.
Dunleavy called the allegations “an organized effort to manipulate Alaska’s elections by recruiting candidates”. He said the alleged effort included a candidate with the same name as an incumbent US senator and was intended to confuse voters and misdirect their votes.
At President Trump’s direction, the Justice Department has also filed a civil lawsuit seeking to prevent the state from certifying the election results should Senator Sullivan lose. The department plans to ask the judge for expedited discovery by Monday.
A civil investigation is proceeding alongside the criminal inquiry.
Trump has called on Peltola to leave the race and to face criminal prosecution. Attorney General Todd Blanche has called Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy and the alleged recruitment efforts “cheating” and “fraud”, and said: “I expect you’re going to hear more from the Department of Justice this week as we learn more information.”
It remains unknown whether any campaign or committee officials will be charged, whether Sullivan Jr. knew of an alleged plan to use him as a spoiler, or whether the civil lawsuit will succeed.
Peltola is challenging Senator Sullivan in a race seen as important to control of the US Senate. The winner will be decided through ranked-choice voting on November 3.
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