FBI Expands Alaska Senate Race Investigation, Visits Donor in Petersburg
Federal agents probe potential voter deception in Alaska's Senate race, visiting a donor in the candidate's hometown. Learn more.
POLICY WIRE — Petersburg, Alaska — Federal investigators have expanded their probe into Alaska’s Senate race, reaching out to contributors who supported Dan J. Sullivan, a candidate who shares a name with the incumbent Republican senator.
The FBI visited a boat dealership in Petersburg, a remote fishing community, to gather information from local donors. One such donor, Charles Flint, a longtime friend of Dan J. Sullivan, expressed his frustration with the inquiry, stating he felt no deception in his support.
Flint, who contributed $500 to Sullivan’s campaign, said he was aware of the candidate’s expenses and respected his decision to run. When an FBI agent asked Flint’s son whether the older Flint felt misled, the donor firmly stated, I don’t feel like I’ve been misled at all.
Flint, who has been out of town, added that he has no plans to follow up with the FBI, calling it a waste of time. He emphasized that there was no confusion about the candidates, and he intends to rank Democrat Mary Peltola first on his ballot, followed by Dan J. Sullivan.
The investigation has gained momentum following revelations from The New York Times that Peltola’s campaign may have been involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan as a candidate. Peltola has vehemently denied any involvement and described the allegations as a “smear campaign” aimed at suppressing voter turnout.
At a campaign rally in Anchorage, Peltola reiterated her stance, saying she was “deeply offended” by the claims and confident in her ability to win the race without any outside assistance.
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed that the probe has been ongoing for several months and that recent developments have led to a “significant surge of law enforcement assets” in the state. The Department of Justice has also sought a court order to isolate certain ballots to investigate potential voter confusion.
The investigation comes just days before Tuesday’s ranked choice general election, a critical contest that could influence the balance of power in the Senate.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
