Federal prosecutors confirm criminal probe into Alaska Senate ballot dispute

Federal authorities in Alaska have confirmed a criminal investigation into an alleged effort to confuse voters in the state's Senate race. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman announced the probe on Friday, stating that law enforcement resources were rapidly deployed to the state. The inquiry focuses on a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan who appears on the ballot alongside the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The investigation has been active for several months but gained public attention after The New York Times reported that the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola was involved in recruiting the challenger. Heyman said the department is acting swiftly to pursue credible information regarding the deception of voters. The Justice Department also filed court documents seeking to isolate all ballots ranking Dan J. Sullivan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson stated the government wants to preserve these ballots to investigate whether voter confusion influenced the rankings.

The criminal probe runs parallel to civil litigation filed by the Justice Department last week. That lawsuit seeks to block the certification of the Senate race if the incumbent loses. Federal attorneys argued there is a substantial risk that the duplicate name will mislead voters and compromise the integrity of the electoral process. They asked the court for expedited consideration, noting that the opportunity to segregate ballots will vanish after Election Day.

Mary Peltola denied knowledge of any recruitment efforts for the other Sullivan. Speaking at a rally in Juneau, she said she knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot besides herself and the incumbent. She added that she was not interested in tricking voters. Dan J. Sullivan has also maintained he did not run at the behest of Democrats. He described his contact with Peltola's campaign as zero, none, and zilch.

State officials are challenging the federal intervention. Alaska attorneys argued that election officials already took steps to distinguish the two Sullivans on the ballot. They noted that the state's ranked voting system further addresses concerns about potential confusion. State attorneys have asked a court to rule on the Justice Department's lawsuit by Monday, arguing the case could cast a cloud over the election.

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a separate state investigation into Peltola. He said the reporting reveals disturbing evidence of an organized effort to manipulate the election. President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether Peltola would be seated in the Senate if she won the election. He told reporters in South Carolina that it is hard to believe she could even be allowed to run.

Federal prosecutors issued dozens of grand jury subpoenas and record preservation requests this week. The race is one of a handful of Senate contests expected to determine control of the chamber this year.