Alaska governor orders state investigation into Peltola campaign over second 'Dan Sullivan' candidate; Trump calls for prosecution
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy directed the state Department of Public Safety to examine whether Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign broke state law over the candidacy of a second man named Dan Sullivan. Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee say they had no involvement.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, said on Thursday 29 October that he had directed the state’s Department of Public Safety to investigate Democrat Mary Peltola’s US Senate campaign over the candidacy of a second man named Dan Sullivan, who is on the ballot alongside Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.
The department will determine “whether this scheme violated Alaska’s laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted,” Dunleavy wrote on X. “The evidence will determine what happens next.” He cited a New York Times report published on Wednesday which, citing 12 people and text messages, said Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) worked to recruit a candidate with the senator’s name, NBC News reported.
Responses
A Peltola campaign spokesperson said the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign”. A DSCC spokesperson said it “is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan”. The second Sullivan has said he entered the race on his own, NBC News reported.
President Donald Trump called for Peltola and the second Sullivan to be “removed from the ballot and prosecuted”. Asked whether Republicans should refuse to seat Peltola if she wins, he said: “You’re going to have to see what happens.” Vice President JD Vance said “we should certainly look into whether she committed election fraud”, according to NBC News. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer requested interviews with two people named in the report.
An election analyst for NBC News, Stephen Richer, said recruiting a candidate may be legal if there was “no inducement, like money or threats”. The vote is on Tuesday 3 November.
See also: Justice Department sues to block certification of Alaska’s Senate result.
Sources
- Alaska governor orders investigation into Peltola camp after report they recruited second Dan Sullivan · NBC News
- Alaska governor orders probe into Peltola Senate campaign · AP News
- Dunleavy orders state criminal investigation into Peltola campaign ballot-stacking allegations · Juneau Independent
- Republican governor of Alaska orders investigation into 'spoiler candidate' · Al Jazeera
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