Justice Department Widens Criminal Probe Into Alaska Senate Campaign Strategy

The U.S. Department of Justice has significantly intensified a criminal investigation into allegations that Alaska Democrats orchestrated a plan to confuse voters by recruiting a candidate intended to divert votes from incumbent Republican Senator Daniel Sullivan. Investigators have issued dozens of grand jury subpoenas and preservation notices as they explore potential new criminal charges, according to individuals familiar with the inquiry. Among the proposals was providing additional instructions for poll workers to clarify for voters which Sullivan is which.

The escalation follows a recent media report that detailed an alleged coordinated effort involving the campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola. Officials noted that the report provided investigators with critical information that had not been previously secured. By Wednesday evening, federal prosecutors had dispatched more than 40 grand jury subpoenas and record preservation notices, with additional filings expected to follow. Prosecutors had issued some grand jury subpoenas and interviewed witnesses, one of the sources said, though at least one of the witnesses has largely gone quiet in recent months, before Wednesday. It cites twelve different excerpts from the Times report, to that point.

Justice Department officials maintain that the Alaska inquiry, alongside other high-profile actions—including the search of Representative Ilhan Omar’s home, various criminal charges against critics of the president, and investigations into California election officials—are standard, time-sensitive law enforcement operations. Department spokespeople state these efforts are designed to protect the integrity of votes rather than influence election results, countering claims of political motivation. Including the first Trump term, when it took pains to remain out of the public eye in the weeks leading up to the election, the Alaska activity follows an already frenetic series of Justice Department actions that have marked a stark difference with previous administrations. Particularly after Trump told reporters he directed it, critics have slammed the lawsuit as political maneuvering.

The investigation has previously centered on Daniel J. Sullivan, labeled “Decoy Dan” by opponents. While Alaska state officials previously attempted to remove him from the ballot, arguing his candidacy was a bad-faith effort to deceive voters, the state supreme court ultimately permitted both candidates named Sullivan to remain on the ballot. U.S. Attorney for Alaska Michael Heyman recused himself early in the process due to discussions regarding a potential judgeship nomination, leaving the investigation to civil rights prosecutors and career officials. However, leadership requested that Heyman return to the case on Wednesday. But the state supreme court rejected those efforts and restored the dueling Sullivans on the ballot. According to a state official, There are examples of voters who are well-informed about the dueling Sullivans still erroneously filling out their ballots and having to seek new ballots. It’s unclear how many of the spoiled ballots are related to the Sullivans confusion.

As the investigation broadens, department officials have indicated that legal options have expanded, with prosecutors considering potential deprivation of rights charges. President Donald Trump has publicly commented on the matter, labeling the situation “voter fraud at the highest level” and calling for prosecution. Meanwhile, federal attorneys have amended a lawsuit seeking to delay election certification, incorporating details from recent reporting to bolster allegations that the Peltola campaign and Democratic entities knowingly misled the public. Separately, department officials filed a long-shot lawsuit last week seeking to delay certification if Sen.

The Alaska Republican-led elections office has formally requested that the court dismiss the department’s lawsuit, warning that the legal maneuver intends to cast doubt on the electoral process. Because Alaska utilizes a ranked-choice system, final results could remain uncertain for weeks. Attorney General Todd Blanche previously faced questions regarding his discussions with the president, who has expressed public interest in the litigation for months. But declined to discuss his conversations with Trump, who had publicly raised the issue for months, attorney General Todd Blanche tried to walk back the assertion by saying in an interview days later that Justice Department was conducting its own research.

Department officials have privately acknowledged that while the lawsuit may struggle in court, it serves to highlight concerns over alleged voter fraud. Internal deliberations regarding a settlement have not produced a “middle-of-the-road approach,” and some officials remain divided over whether the alleged actions constitute criminal activity or political campaigning. Despite internal debate regarding the efficacy of the probe, the department continues to pursue a strategy that allows for a potential election challenge if deemed necessary. A department official denied the alleged backlash. Some department officials questioned why the Times appeared to have evidence that prosecutors had not yet obtained, after the Times article published. According to “Although what the New York Times, Is not always true, its reporting here aligns with what the United States has been alleging on information and belief,” the new lawsuit states. “It also aligns with common sense. Which is all but destined to fail, still serves a purpose by creating headlines that warn Alaskans about what one source described as a “massive voter f, some inside the department privately admit that the Alaska lawsuit.