President Donald Trump called for Mary Peltola’s prosecution as federal investigators seek records tied to Alaska’s Nov. 3 Senate race, a probe that overlaps with a separate dispute over election certification.
Trump made the call on Oct. 28, saying, “I think they should be prosecuted.” Reports differ on who received subpoenas: Reuters named the Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. campaigns, while CBS News reported that several Democratic officials were targets. The Associated Press said its source could not identify a count or recipients, and CBS reported no one involved had been charged as of Oct. 29.
The inquiry centers on Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a candidate challenging Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The New York Times reported that Peltola campaign associates and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee helped recruit candidates, including the challenger, in an alleged effort to weaken the senator’s vote share. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) cites the newspaper’s report in an amended complaint, but a court has not established the allegations. Peltola told the Associated Press, “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent.” Sullivan Jr. has denied acting at Democrats’ behest.
The criminal investigation is separate from DOJ’s civil case against Alaska and state election officials. DOJ filed the lawsuit on Oct. 22 and amended it Oct. 29, adding a claim under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause alongside its existing claim under the National Voter Registration Act.
DOJ alleges that the candidates’ similar names could confuse voters using ranked-choice voting and help Peltola by reducing support for the incumbent. The department asks the court to block certification if confusion may have affected the result while the issue is investigated; the request has not been granted. Alaska argues the ballot distinguishes the candidates and identifies the incumbent. The state cited primary results in which Dan S. Sullivan received 41.4% of the vote and the challenger received 2.5%, saying voters could tell them apart. Alaska also says a delay could disrupt election administration and threaten ballot secrecy.
The Associated Press has placed Alaska among the contests that could determine which party controls the Senate. State attorneys asked the judge to rule by Nov. 2, the AP reported; that request is not a court-ordered deadline. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
