The FBI is speeding up its criminal investigation into Alaska’s alleged “decoy” candidate controversy as ballots continue to be counted in the state’s Senate race.
Two sources familiar with the inquiry told the Daily Mail that agents questioned Elisa Rios, the former campaign manager for Democratic candidate Mary Peltola, on Election Day.
The FBI approached Rios in Chicago on Tuesday, the sources said.
One source described the investigation as moving “full speed ahead.”
Rios is alleged to have helped recruit another Dan Sullivan—who shares the name of Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan—in an apparent attempt to confuse voters and draw support away from the sitting senator.
Peltola has denied any involvement in the alleged plan. She currently leads Sullivan by fewer than 700 votes, with 75 percent of the ballots reported, according to the Associated Press.
A final result could take weeks because Alaska’s vast size and rural population make vote counting particularly challenging.
The other Dan Sullivan has received about 3,500 votes, potentially making his candidacy decisive in the contest.
Conservatives fear the “decoy” candidate could siphon enough votes from the incumbent to give Peltola the victory.
“What they said could happen appears to be happening,” a source familiar with the Department of Justice investigation told the Daily Mail.
Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC are under investigation after a New York Times report alleged that operatives recruited a “decoy” candidate to improve her chances of winning Alaska’s Senate seat.
GOP incumbent Dan Sullivan has raised concerns about the “decoy” candidate who shares his name.
In an explosive report by the New York Times, Rios said Peltola “definitely” knew about an alleged effort involving the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, or DSCC, to find another Sullivan and improve her chances of winning the seat.
The former campaign manager said she left Peltola’s campaign in August during a broader staff shake-up, only months before the election. She did not explain the reason for her sudden departure.
Cheryl Bruce, who had been the campaign’s deputy manager, replaced her.
The Times cited 12 sources, along with text messages and documents, in reporting that operatives aligned with Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Dan Sullivan 2.0. The alleged internal operation was reportedly known as the “ballot composition project.”
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC denied any involvement, while Peltola said she “knew nothing” about the effort.
Rios, however, maintained in her account to the Times that Peltola was aware of the alleged scheme.
A week before the Times published its report, Rios said she wanted to retract her earlier statements. She had been preparing to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against the Peltola campaign.
“I am not willing to be a source for any story in any capacity,” Rios told the Times.
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Dan Sullivan 2.0 has repeatedly said he entered the race independently and never communicated with Peltola’s campaign. But he left his hometown two days before the Times report appeared and has not been located since.
Senator Sullivan’s campaign described the allegations as “the biggest election cheating scandal in the history of Alaska.”
Dan Sullivan 2.0 reportedly left his hometown of Petersburg last week and has not been heard from since.
The report emerged after nearly one in 10 registered Alaskans had already cast their ballots. Governor Mike Dunleavy subsequently ordered an investigation into the Peltola campaign.
Even before the report was published, the Justice Department had sued Alaska election officials, asking a court to block certification if Sullivan lost.
Earlier this week, however, an Alaska judge dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit, stopping the Trump administration’s preemptive legal effort.
The Justice Department argued that Daniel J. Sullivan, whom the Trump administration called “Decoy Dan,” entered the contest as a “frivolous candidate to confuse voters.”
But US District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled that the Trump administration lacked standing to bring the case. The lawsuit sought to require Alaska to segregate ballots if Republican US Senator Dan S. Sullivan lost his reelection bid to Democratic candidate Mary Peltola.
The DOJ has appealed the ruling.
A separate investigation by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee is also continuing.
Committee investigators requested an in-person interview with Rios on Wednesday.
“If you do not voluntarily appear for the interview, we will be forced to evaluate the use of compulsory process,” the committee warned.
A committee source told the Daily Mail that the transcribed interview is no longer expected to take place this week. The committee remains in contact with Rios’ attorney and lawyers representing the second Dan Sullivan.
Rios did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment. The Peltola campaign was also contacted about the FBI’s contact with Rios.
The fiercely contested midterm race remains too close to call, with the outcome still unresolved after Election Day.
Neither candidate has been willing to claim victory, although both have expressed confidence after roughly 75 percent of the vote was reported.
Sullivan, who trails Peltola, said he expects to win and described the early returns as “promising.”
Peltola, meanwhile, said she was looking forward to taking “our state back.”
Alaska’s Senate race has become one of the country’s most controversial midterm contests.