The short version
- Federal agents have contacted donors in Alaska and Massachusetts regarding potential deception in contributions to a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan.
- The Justice Department is seeking legal authority to separate specific ballots to investigate whether voters were confused by the name similarity with the Republican incumbent.
- Incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan’s Democratic challenger denies any involvement in recruiting the third-party candidate, calling the allegations a smear campaign.
Federal law enforcement officials have expanded their investigation into the Alaska Senate race by directly contacting individuals who donated to a third-party candidate sharing the name of the Republican incumbent. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation have reached out to contributors in at least two remote Alaskan communities and several locations in Massachusetts. These inquiries focus on whether donors were misled about the identity of the recipient of their financial support.
The probe centers on Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher and musician who lives in Petersburg, a small fishing community accessible only by air or water. This candidate shares his name with Sen. Dan Sullivan, the Republican incumbent facing re-election against Democrat Mary Peltola. The FBI’s outreach marks a significant escalation in federal scrutiny of the race, which is viewed as potentially pivotal for control of the Senate.
In Petersburg, an Anchorage-based agent visited a local boat dealership to speak with Charles Flint, a longtime donor who has known the candidate for years. Flint contributed $500 to what he described as a long-shot campaign effort during the summer. The agent asked Flint’s son whether his father felt he had been deceived regarding which political figure he was supporting. Flint stated that he did not feel misled and expressed no intention of cooperating further with the agent.
Flint emphasized that there is no confusion among voters about who holds office. He indicated that he plans to rank Democrat Mary Peltola first on his ballot, followed by Dan J. Sullivan. Other donors have reported similar interactions. In Sitka, two agents briefly interviewed a donor at their doorstep, asking whether the contribution was made to the intended recipient. That donor described the agents as polite and noted the conversation was voluntary.
In Massachusetts, Pat Campbell of Groton reported that agents visited her home and spoke with her husband about potential fraud in election contributions. Campbell stated via text message that she and her husband knew exactly to whom they had contributed and did not feel defrauded. These individual accounts suggest that while the government is investigating systemic issues, some donors believe their intentions were clear.
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed that the federal investigation has been ongoing for several months. However, he noted a significant surge in law enforcement resources following recent reports suggesting that Peltola’s campaign may have been involved in recruiting the third-party candidate. The Justice Department also filed a motion on Friday seeking a court order to isolate certain Alaska ballots. This legal step aims to investigate potential voter confusion stemming from the identical names on the ballot.
The developments occur just days before Tuesday’s ranked-choice general election. At a campaign rally in Anchorage, Peltola denied any involvement in plans to place candidates on the ballot to detract from the incumbent senator. She characterized the allegations as garbage and part of a smear campaign designed to suppress voter turnout on the eve of the election.
Peltola asserted that she does not need assistance to win the race against Sen. Sullivan. The FBI’s actions and the Justice Department’s legal maneuvers highlight the unusual nature of this contest, where name similarity has become a central issue in federal oversight. As the election approaches, authorities are working to determine whether any criminal deception occurred or if the situation represents a unique electoral anomaly without illicit intent.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- PBS NewsHour↗FBI visits Dan J. Sullivan donor in candidate's hometown as Alaska Senate inquiry widens
