DOJ Seeks to Preserve Alaska Ballots in ‘Decoy Dan’ Probe
The Justice Department is pursuing an expedited court order requiring Alaska election officials to preserve and separate ballots that rank Daniel J. Sullivan, a nonparty Senate candidate. The filing says the measure is needed before Monday and would help investigators examine whether voters were confused. It does not explain how ballot reviews could establish confusion or set out a review process. The department says it is not seeking to change votes or determine the winner through the ballot-preservation request.
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said on October 30 that federal authorities have separate civil and criminal investigations underway. The civil case concerns preserving ballots; the criminal inquiry is examining possible wrongdoing. Heyman said investigators were not assuming a crime had occurred.
The inquiry follows allegations that Democratic operatives connected to Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan to challenge GOP Senator Dan Sullivan. Peltola has denied involvement. Alaska’s ballot identifies the incumbent as a Republican, and election officials added the word “incumbent” after his name. The Alaska Supreme Court rejected the state’s effort to keep Daniel J. Sullivan off the ballot.
A former Federal Election Commission member said recruiting a same-name candidate is not necessarily illegal, but paid recruitment or campaign assistance could raise campaign-finance issues. The Republican Senate campaign committee has asked the FEC to investigate. The Justice Department has not identified any charges it is pursuing.
DOJ’s Alaska Ballot Probe Raises Election Overreach Concerns
The Justice Department wants Alaska officials to isolate ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan, but its filing does not explain how officials could determine whether voters were confused or how any review would work. The request comes as federal authorities pursue a criminal inquiry into allegations involving a candidate whose name is already distinguished on the ballot from that of the Republican incumbent.
U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said on October 30 that civil and criminal investigations are proceeding independently. The civil case concerns ballot preservation; he said investigators have not assumed that a crime occurred. The department says it is not trying to change votes or declare a winner through its preservation request.
The allegations concern claims that Democratic operatives connected to Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan. Peltola denies involvement. Alaska election officials added “incumbent” and “registered Republican” to the sitting senator’s ballot listing, and the Alaska Supreme Court rejected the state’s bid to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot.
Critics argue that federal officials are intruding into an election administered under state authority, while a former FEC member said recruitment alone is not necessarily criminal. The rush to separate ballots, without a stated method for identifying confusion, risks turning an unproven allegation into a pretext for federal pressure on Alaska’s election.
DOJ Acts to Protect Alaska Voters Amid ‘Decoy Dan’ Allegations
The Justice Department is taking allegations of a coordinated effort to confuse Alaska voters seriously, seeking a court order to preserve ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan. The department says the civil request is limited to safeguarding ballots, while a separate criminal investigation examines possible wrongdoing.
U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said on October 30 that investigators are not presuming a crime. But if operatives knowingly recruited a same-name candidate to divert votes, a former Federal Election Commission member said, prosecutors could examine federal conspiracy theories. He also said paid recruitment or campaign support could raise campaign-finance questions.
The allegations focus on claims that Democratic operatives tied to Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola denies involvement. The Republican Senate campaign committee has asked the FEC to investigate, and the Justice Department’s court filing seeks action before Monday so ballots can be preserved.
Critics call the federal inquiry overreach and argue the state has already addressed possible confusion: the ballot identifies the incumbent as a Republican, and the Alaska Supreme Court rejected an effort to bar Daniel J. Sullivan. But those steps do not resolve the allegations of coordinated recruitment. Preserving the ballots would allow the investigation to proceed without losing evidence after Election Day.
Reported by Townhall, Talking Points Memo, The Washington Examiner, NBC News, Fox News.
