ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska’s top federal prosecutor said Friday that authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into an alleged effort to mislead voters by placing a Senate candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent on the ballot.
The probe began months ago. But after The New York Times reported this week that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign appeared to have helped recruit Dan J. Sullivan Jr., federal officials significantly expanded their investigative presence in Alaska, U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman told reporters.
“When credible information comes out, we are committed to pursuing that information to deceive voters and we will act on it. We are acting on it intensely and swiftly,” Heyman said.
Heyman declined to identify the possible crimes under review or say who may be targeted. He urged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.
Peltola said Thursday that she had no knowledge of an effort to place Dan J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot. She is challenging Republican Sen. Daniel Sullivan in the race.
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“I just want to clear the air,” Peltola said at the beginning of a speech at a downtown Juneau bar. “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters.”
Federal prosecutors have issued dozens of grand jury subpoenas and demands to preserve records, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press.
Dan J. Sullivan has repeatedly rejected claims that Democrats encouraged his candidacy and said he never communicated with Peltola’s campaign. “Zero, none, zilch,” he said in June after announcing his run.
The Alaska contest is one of several closely watched Senate races that could decide which party controls the chamber.
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