Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered the state Department of Public Safety to investigate whether Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and others violated state law by helping recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to draw votes away from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
The investigation follows a New York Times report detailing an effort by Democratic operatives connected to Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) to recruit candidates who could weaken Republican support in Alaska’s Senate race. The effort reportedly focused on retired Petersburg schoolteacher Dan J. Sullivan, whose name closely resembles that of the incumbent senator. The Times cited interviews with 12 people who were involved in, informed about or approached regarding the effort, as well as dozens of text messages among participants.
The governor’s announcement came as the Justice Department expanded its separate investigation into the matter. A U.S. official confirmed to NBC News that federal authorities had issued at least three dozen new subpoenas and document preservation requests to Peltola’s campaign offices and those of Dan J. Sullivan. The second Sullivan’s candidacy had already been under investigation by state and federal prosecutors, and a grand jury issued subpoenas for information from witnesses connected to his campaign in August.
Dunleavy directed the Department of Public Safety to determine whether the alleged scheme violated Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted. Deputy Commissioner Austin McDaniel confirmed that the Alaska Bureau of Investigation had begun examining the alleged conduct described in the Times report.
