Peltola denies link to Alaska spoiler candidate as DOJ issues new subpoenas
Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola states she knew nothing about the recruitment of a second candidate with the incumbent's name while the Justice Department expands its criminal probe.
By Michael Bennett ·
Alaska voters face heightened scrutiny of their ballot choices as the Justice Department issues new grand jury subpoenas in a probe into the state's U.S. Senate race. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola publicly denied knowledge of efforts to place a second candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent on the ballot. The development adds legal pressure to a contest that could determine control of the Senate.
Peltola addressed the issue at a speech in a downtown Juneau bar on Thursday. She stated that she knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except herself and the incumbent. "I am not interested in tricking voters," she said. The candidate is running against Sen. Dan Sullivan, who is identified on the ballot as a registered Republican and incumbent.
A person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that the Justice Department issued subpoenas seeking testimony or documents along with records preservation demands. These actions followed a report by The New York Times indicating that Peltola’s campaign appeared involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan Jr. for the race. The source said more subpoenas are expected, though the specific recipients and total number were not immediately clear.
The Justice Department has investigated allegations that Dan J. Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher, entered the race to siphon votes from the incumbent. Attorney General Todd Blanche accused Democrats of cheating in a Wednesday interview. He claimed the party is putting up a person with the same name to take votes away from the incumbent rather than running on issues.
Dan J. Sullivan Jr. has denied he was running at the Democrats' behest. In June, he said he had no contact with Peltola's campaign, describing the connection as zero. President Donald Trump called for the criminal prosecution of Peltola and her campaign this week. He later said he felt Peltola should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted.
Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered a separate state investigation into Peltola. He said the recent reporting reveals disturbing evidence of an organized effort to manipulate the election. The governor noted that the findings substantially support earlier conclusions by the state’s elections board. State attorneys asked a court to rule on a Justice Department lawsuit by Monday, warning the case could cast a cloud over the election.
Legal experts note that political parties often support extra candidates to pull votes from rivals. If state courts allow the arrangement, the federal government has no role in challenging the results. A similar effort is underway in Ohio’s Senate race, where Republicans have supported a socialist candidate to split the Democratic vote. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that Peltola has pretended to have nothing to do with placing a fraudulent person on the ballot.
The Alaska Supreme Court previously ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is qualified to run in the general election. An earlier ruling by a state elections official found his candidacy filed with a purpose to confuse voters, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision. Alaskan voters will see the incumbent listed with a party affiliation, while the other candidate will appear without one.
