The Justice Department has sent more than 20 target and preservation letters in its investigation of Alaska Senate candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, according to two sources familiar with the inquiry who spoke to Fox News Digital. The retired schoolteacher is suspected of having been recruited to draw votes away from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan because of their similar names.
The investigation began in July, initially examining whether the candidacy was designed to mislead voters and compromise the election’s fairness. A source familiar with the inquiry said investigators have issued more than 120 subpoenas since the summer. Daniel J. Sullivan, who has been nicknamed “Decoy Dan,” entered the race without a political party affiliation.
More than 30 subpoenas were issued within a 24-hour period last Thursday, a source told Fox News Digital. That activity followed a New York Times report describing alleged coordination involving the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic operatives and people connected to Mary Peltola’s campaign to recruit the schoolteacher.
The New York Times reported on Election Day that investigators had sent notices informing recipients they were under investigation or directing them to retain communications and documents. It identified election lawyer Marc Elias, whose Elias Law Group has represented Peltola, and a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee official as recipients. Sources told Fox News Digital that the notices were sent before Election Day and were not limited to Democratic officials. They did not identify additional recipients or specify how many received each type of letter.
Attorney General Todd Blanche alleged that Sullivan was running solely to confuse Alaska voters and did not expect to become a senator. President Donald Trump also criticized the alleged recruitment effort during a Tuesday appearance on “Fox & Friends,” saying Elias should be jailed and suggesting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should be held criminally responsible. A federal judge on Sunday dismissed the administration’s lawsuit seeking to prevent Alaska officials from certifying results if Daniel J. Sullivan was deemed to have cost the incumbent the election.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, blamed the state’s nonpartisan primary system for allowing the retired teacher to reach the general election. Alaska advances the four highest-finishing primary candidates regardless of party. Dunleavy argued that Sullivan would not have advanced under a traditional primary system.
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman formally announced the investigation at a Friday news conference but did not identify what criminal charges were being pursued. “I'm not making any assumptions on whether a crime has been committed or not,” he said, explaining that investigators were conducting a thorough inquiry. The Justice Department declined to comment to Fox News Digital on the ongoing investigation.
