Alaska DOJ confirms criminal probe over Senate race

Federal officials in Alaska have launched a criminal investigation into the state’s Senate race, a move that has accelerated the deployment of law enforcement resources to the region. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed the existence of the probe on Friday, noting that the department has increased its presence in the state following recent media reports.

The legal action centers on a candidacy filed by a man named Dan J. Sullivan, who shares a name with the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Department of Justice alleges that the similar names on the ballot create a risk of voter confusion. Court filings state that the government seeks to preserve and segregate all ballots ranking the challenger to determine if the votes were cast due to mistaken identity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson filed the motion on Friday. The document argues that these precautionary measures are necessary now because they will be difficult to implement after Election Day. The DOJ contends that the candidacy poses a substantial risk to the integrity of the electoral process in Alaska.

The criminal probe is proceeding in parallel with a civil lawsuit filed by the Justice Department last week. That suit aims to block the certification of the race if the incumbent loses. State attorneys have asked a court to rule on that lawsuit by Monday, arguing it could cast a shadow over the election that is contrary to the public interest.

Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee, denied knowledge of the effort to recruit the other Sullivan. Speaking at a rally in Juneau, she stated that she knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot besides herself and the incumbent. Peltola said she is not interested in tricking voters and wanted to clear the air regarding the campaign’s role.

Dan J. Sullivan has also denied working at the behest of Democrats. He claimed in June that he had no contact with Peltola’s campaign. He described the level of interaction as zero, none, and zilch. The challenger’s entry into the race has drawn scrutiny from both federal and state authorities.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, ordered a state investigation into the matter. He said the recent reporting reveals evidence of an organized effort to manipulate the election by recruiting candidates with the incumbent's name. Dunleavy stated that tricking voters strikes at the integrity of the election and supports findings from the state elections board.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump has questioned whether Peltola would be seated if she won. He told reporters in South Carolina that it is hard to believe she could be allowed to run. The race is one of a few Senate contests expected to determine control of the chamber in the coming months.

Prosecutors issued dozens of grand jury subpoenas this week. Heyman did not specify which crimes are under investigation or name the targets of the probe. He encouraged the public to provide tips to investigators. The department’s public discussion of the case is unusual in the weeks leading up to an election.