The Justice Department announced a new wave of grand‑jury subpoenas Thursday as it deepens a criminal probe into the Alaska Senate race. Federal investigators are examining whether operatives linked to Democratic challenger Mary Peltola’s campaign tried to recruit a namesake, Dan J. Sullivan Jr., to confuse voters and siphon support from incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
Subpoenas target testimony and records
The subpoenas demand grand‑jury testimony, relevant documents, and preservation of any related records. A source familiar with the matter said additional subpoenas were expected later that day, though the exact number and recipients remain unclear.
Alaska officials launch parallel investigation
Governor Mike Dunleavy has directed the state Department of Public Safety to investigate possible violations of Alaska’s civil or criminal statutes. The governor’s office emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the state’s ranked‑choice voting system.
Candidates and parties respond
Sen. Dan S. Sullivan accused the Peltola campaign of attempting to deceive Alaskans. “I am pressing my opponent to come clean,” he said. “She’s the corrupt one working with D.C. insiders to trick Alaskans.”
Peltola rejected the allegations, calling the reports a distraction aimed at selling newspapers. “This is just another diversion,” she said. “Nobody at the New York Times cares about affordability in Alaska.” Her campaign also stated it played no role in recruiting or supporting Dan J. Sullivan Jr.
President Donald Trump weighed in, urging federal authorities to pursue criminal charges against Peltola and anyone assisting her. “I think they should be prosecuted for what they did,” he said.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied any involvement with the second Sullivan, noting that “Republicans have a long history of recruiting and propping up candidates in an attempt to boost their own campaigns.”
Background on the duplicate‑name candidate
Dan J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher from Petersburg, qualified for the ballot after the Alaska Supreme Court upheld his eligibility earlier this year. He has repeatedly denied any coordination with Democrats, describing any alleged communication with Peltola’s campaign as “zero, none, zilch.”
Former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus warned that having two candidates with identical names could create significant voter confusion under Alaska’s ranked‑choice voting system, urging campaigns to clearly distinguish the two Sullivans on the ballot.
Implications for the race
The investigation adds a new layer of scrutiny to an already tightly contested Senate race. With both federal and state authorities probing the matter, voters and campaign staff are closely watching how the allegations may affect perceptions of fairness and transparency.
Alaska’s senior Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, called on Peltola to address the controversy directly, stating, “Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign.”
As the DOJ’s inquiry proceeds, the outcome could shape the final weeks of the campaign and influence how future elections handle name‑confusion tactics.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
