Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola on Thursday denied any link to a candidate who shares a name with a Republican senator, as a Justice Department lawsuit, a state probe and calls from President Donald Trump for prosecution all focus on the Senate race. The candidate in question is Daniel J. Sullivan, who shares a first and last name with GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Speaking to supporters at a Juneau rally Thursday, Peltola said she is "not interested in tricking voters" and knew nothing about any candidates besides herself and the incumbent, according to CBS News US.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that operatives linked to Peltola’s campaign allegedly helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan, according to CBS News US. The Times report’s claims rest on a former Peltola campaign manager and text messages, according to the outline’s sourcing; the messages and independent confirmation have not been shown in the sources reviewed. Spokespeople for the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied any role in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan.
The Justice Department sued to potentially block certification of the election if the senator loses due to "voter confusion," and issued subpoenas in a separate criminal probe, according to CBS News US. The sources do not give the scope or timing of the subpoenas, or the federal court’s schedule. State courts in Alaska allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to stay on the ballot before the Justice Department filed suit last week asking a federal court to intervene.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) ordered a probe into "whether this scheme violated Alaska’s laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted," according to CBS News US. Axios reported that Dunleavy suggested Thursday the state could withhold certification of the U.S. Senate results if Peltola wins while the matter is investigated. The Axios item is limited to a headline and short excerpt, and Dunleavy’s full answer was cut off. A Peltola spokesperson accused Dunleavy of threatening to overrule Alaskan voters.
Trump, speaking at a South Carolina campaign event, said Peltola "should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted, and so should the fake Dan Sullivan," calling the alleged scheme "voter fraud at the highest level," according to the Guardian World.
Dan Sullivan has called Daniel J. Sullivan a "sham candidate" meant to confuse voters. Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, has denied those allegations in the past. The sources do not include a response from him to the latest allegations, or a response from the Dan Sullivan campaign to the Times report.
Certification questions tied to the Alaska probe could affect whether a winner is certified in next week’s Senate race, and the federal court’s handling of the Justice Department suit is pending. The sources do not say whether either the Justice Department or the Alaska probe has reached any finding.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.