Peltola’s campaign denies involvement. The Justice Department is also reported to be investigating, days before the Nov. 3 election
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, on Wednesday ordered an investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign, asking the state Department of Public Safety to determine whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The order followed a New York Times report that people aligned with Peltola’s campaign and senior advisers at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, to run for the Senate. He shares a name with Peltola’s Republican opponent, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The report said the aim was to draw votes from the incumbent.
Peltola’s campaign said it “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign,” and the DSCC said it is not involved. Peltola called the report a “distraction.” Daniel J. Sullivan has said he is genuinely running and had no contact with Peltola’s campaign. According to the Times, Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, said Peltola was not directly involved but was “definitely aware” of the effort.
Dunleavy said the reporting supports findings by the Alaska Division of Elections, which investigated the matter in June, and said anyone who broke the law must be held accountable.
The matter has escalated. President Donald Trump called this week for the criminal prosecution of Peltola and her campaign. The Justice Department has issued new grand jury subpoenas in a criminal investigation, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press on Thursday, though the targets are unclear. The House Oversight Committee’s chairman said the committee has launched its own investigation, according to the Daily News.
Legal experts say parties often support extra candidates to try to draw votes from rivals, and that if state courts allow it, the federal government has no role in challenging the results, AP reported. Dunleavy is term-limited, and a new governor will be sworn in in December.
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This report draws on information from CBS News, CNBC, the Anchorage Daily News and The Associated Press.