DOJ escalates criminal probe into Alaska Senate race scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 03:27 · Archive

The Justice Department is issuing dozens of grand jury subpoenas in its investigation into efforts to recruit a candidate with the same name as Alaska's Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

The Justice Department has significantly escalated its investigation into an alleged scheme to recruit a candidate with the same name as Alaska's incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan to confuse voters. The DOJ will issue dozens of new grand jury subpoenas on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter.

The investigation intensified after a New York Times report revealed that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were allegedly involved in recruiting the decoy candidate. Prosecutors are exploring whether to bring charges alleging a conspiracy to violate voters' rights. Michael Heyman, the US Attorney for the District of Alaska, said at a press conference on Friday that "this new information has resulted in a significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska" and that authorities are taking the allegations "extremely seriously".

Peltola's campaign has denied involvement with the scheme. President Trump has called on Peltola to drop out of the race and be criminally prosecuted. Republican Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has also ordered a state investigation into the allegations. The Trump administration has separately filed a civil lawsuit seeking to stop the state from certifying the election results should Sullivan lose with a decoy candidate on the ballot.

How it is being reported

• Feds ‘surge’ law enforcement to Alaska after ‘troubling new revelations’ in ‘Decoy Dan’ Senate scheme“As we speak, law enforcement around the country are taking investigative steps with respect to the criminal investigation,” the top federal prosecutor in Alaska said Friday.New York Post · 30 Oct, 23:14
• Watch: DOJ officials hold press conference on Alaska Dan Sullivan controversyOfficials from the Department of Justice held a press conference on the ongoing investigation into the Dan Sullivan case in Alaska on Friday. CBS News' Nicole Sganga breaks down the key takeaways.CBS News · 30 Oct, 20:55
• Justice Department seeks new subpoenas in Alaska Senate race probe on Dan Sullivan confusionThe Justice Department continues to pursue legal avenues related to the Alaska Senate race, alleging potential confusion on the ballot. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi reports.CBS News · 30 Oct, 12:51
• Department of Justice investigating Alaska Senate race just days ahead of midtermsThe Department of Justice has issued subpoenas in the Alaska Senate race amid a shared-name controversy. Meanwhile, President Trump is campaigning for Darline Graham in South Carolina. CBS News' Taurean Small and Nana-Sentuo Bonsu report.CBS News · 29 Oct, 22:56
• DOJ issues new subpoenas in Alaska Senate probe as officials weigh possible criminal chargesThe Justice Department has begun issuing a new wave of subpoenas stemming from an ongoing criminal investigation into Alaska's U.S. Senate race, multiple sources confirmed to CBS News.CBS News · 29 Oct, 22:35
• DOJ ramps up criminal probe into Alaska’s ‘Decoy Dan’, preps grand jury subpoenasThe Justice Department has dramatically escalated its investigation into the Alaska Senate race and will issue dozens of new grand jury subpoenas on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter.New York Post · 29 Oct, 20:53

In this story: Department of Justice · Dan Sullivan · Mary Peltola · Alaska · Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee · Donald Trump · Mike Dunleavy

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log