DOJ Sends Target Letters in Alaska Senate Probe

The U.S. Justice Department has intensified its criminal investigation into the Alaska Senate race by sending target letters to several individuals, including prominent Democratic attorney Marc Elias.

According to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, the department has issued multiple such letters as part of an ongoing probe. A target letter is a formal notification sent to individuals whom the department views as being at a legitimate risk of indictment.

The investigation centers on the candidacy of retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, who shares a name with the two-term Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Trump administration is scrutinizing the presence of the former teacher on the ballot as a potential effort to confuse voters and divert votes from the incumbent Republican.

The probe gained momentum after The New York Times reported that the campaign of Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola appeared to be involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan. Since that report, the Justice Department has issued more than 100 subpoenas and sent letters ordering individuals to preserve records.

Federal agents have also conducted home visits with donors to Dan J. Sullivan. Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman told reporters in Anchorage on Friday that the new developments led to a significant surge of law enforcement assets to the state.

Heyman declined to specify which crimes authorities are investigating, stating that he was not making assumptions about whether a crime had been committed. He emphasized that the department is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the facts.

Peltola has maintained that she was unaware of any effort to place Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot. In a statement last week, she said, “I am not interested in tricking voters.” Democratic groups, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, have also denied involvement in a campaign trick.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said Channel on Tuesday that the department is acting because a man is running who does not expect to win and is only running to confuse Alaskan voters. Blanche said the Justice Department has been fighting to stop this process but declined to discuss the target letters specifically.

Marc Elias, who served as general counsel for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, is a well-known figure in Democratic politics. He has been a target of President Donald Trump’s attention for years, particularly regarding his role in hiring the firm that produced the opposition research dossier on the former president.

In a statement, Elias alluded to that history, saying, “No one should be surprised that President Trump’s Department of Justice is targeting me and my law firm on Election Day.” He added that the administration has repeatedly weaponized the department against political enemies despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

The Justice Department does not typically require targets to testify before a grand jury due to constitutional protections against self-incrimination. Receiving a target letter does not guarantee an indictment, and the Trump administration has faced challenges in securing convictions in politically sensitive cases. Elias stated that his firm would continue working to support its clients and secure a victory for Democrats at the ballot box.