WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Justice Department has sent out a fresh round of subpoenas in its criminal investigation of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, focusing on whether allies of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola helped recruit a second Dan Sullivan to share the ballot with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
A U.S. official confirmed Thursday that at least three dozen subpoenas and requests to preserve documents had gone out, including to the campaign offices of Peltola and of Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher who is also running. No one connected to the race has been charged.
A department official briefing reporters Thursday pointed to two federal civil rights laws, sections 241 and 242 of the criminal code, as possible grounds for charges. One covers conspiracies against protected rights such as voting. The official also said the department knew of no confirmed case of an Alaska voter picking the wrong Sullivan by mistake.
The department also amended a civil suit, filed last week, that seeks to keep Alaska from certifying the result if the incumbent loses because of voter confusion. The revised complaint calls the episode a conspiracy against the integrity of the election. State officials have asked a federal judge to throw that suit out, saying elections are run by the states.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, separately directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to determine if the recruiting effort broke any Alaska law and if charges or a lawsuit should follow. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has begun that review.
Peltola told supporters at a campaign event Thursday night that she knew nothing about any other candidates and has no interest in fooling voters. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has said it has no involvement with the second Sullivan, who has said he entered the race on his own. The state Supreme Court earlier allowed his candidacy to stand.
Alaska voters go to the polls Tuesday.
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