Corruption & Accountability · Report · File No. 261030-552
Alaska's top federal prosecutor confirms criminal probe tied to second 'Dan Sullivan'
U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed a criminal investigation into the 'Dan J. Sullivan' candidacy, four days before the election. The Justice Department rarely does that, and the race could help decide control of the Senate.
Every quote in this story (1) was matched word for word against its source. How we work
The top federal prosecutor in Alaska confirmed on Friday that a criminal investigation is under way over an alleged scheme to confuse voters. The scheme involves putting a Senate candidate on the ballot with the same name as the Republican incumbent. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman spoke to reporters in Anchorage 1.
Heyman said the investigation has been going for several months. He said this week's New York Times report that Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan led to a "significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska" 1.
Heyman would not say what crimes investigators are examining or who the targets are. He asked the public to send in tips 1. No one has been charged, and the allegations remain unproven.
What the Justice Department filed
In a court filing Friday, prosecutors asked a judge to order that all ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan be preserved and set apart. They say the purpose is to investigate whether those rankings came from voter confusion, according to Bryan Wilson, who said such steps would be taken "should such an investigation become necessary" 1. They argue these steps will be impossible after Election Day 1.
From Channel GOPPeltola: Tariffs doubled Alaska air taxi's parts billMary Peltola · 142 plays · captioned, with the source named
The department also filed proposed questions it wants the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to answer about their reported role in recruiting the challenger. That civil case runs alongside the criminal probe 1. Federal prosecutors also issued dozens of grand jury subpoenas this week, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press 1.
Alaska's attorneys say state officials already took steps to tell the two Sullivans apart on the ballot. They also say the state's ranked voting system addresses confusion concerns 1. The state has asked a court to rule on the Justice Department's suit by Monday 1.
We are acting on it intensely and swiftly
Denials and a break with custom
Peltola denied Thursday that she knew of the effort. Dan J. Sullivan has long denied running at Democrats' request 1. Both denials are on the record, and neither has been ruled on by a court.
Fox News, as relayed by Raw Story, reported earlier this week that prosecutors were weighing charges tied to depriving Alaska voters of their rights. Raw Story attributed the claim to Fox News and its sources, and said the Justice Department did not comment 2. We have not independently confirmed it.
The Associated Press called it "highly unusual" for the Justice Department to discuss a criminal investigation publicly or even confirm one exists. The department has also long avoided public steps in the weeks before an election that could look like an effort to sway the result 1.
That matters because President Trump had already told his department to sue to block certification of this race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses 1. On Thursday Trump questioned whether Peltola would be seated even if she wins 1. The Justice Department is now acting on a story from one newspaper, four days before voters decide.
Next, the court's ruling on the ballot-segregation request and the state's Monday deadline will show how far the federal case can reach. Voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The Record
- Fox News, as relayed by Raw Story, reported an aggressive criminal inquiry into how Daniel J. Sullivan got on the ballot 2.
- Peltola told a Juneau rally she knew nothing about the effort to put Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot 1.
- U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed the criminal investigation, and prosecutors asked a court to segregate ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan 1.
Sources
- PBS NewsHour / Associated Press, “Top federal prosecutor in Alaska says criminal probe underway over would-be spoiler Senate candidate” (2026-10-30). pbs.org/newshour/politics/top-federal-prosecutor-in-alaska-s
- Raw Story, “Dan Sullivan investigation (citing Fox News)” (2026-10-28). rawstory.com/dan-sullivan-investigation-2678161108/
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
Justice Department asks judge to set aside Alaska ballots that rank Dan J. Sullivan
The filing, five days before the midterm election, asks that ballots ranking the second Dan Sullivan be preserved and kept separate while the government investigates whether voters were confused. Alaska's governor has already ordered a state investigation into Mary Peltola's campaign.
Peltola denies knowing of Alaska's second Dan Sullivan as DOJ issues new subpoenas
Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola said she knew nothing about the namesake candidate on Alaska's ballot. The Justice Department escalated its criminal probe days before an election that could decide control of the Senate.
DOJ accuses Peltola of misleading federal court in Alaska Senate suit
The Justice Department's amended complaint says Peltola's campaign and the Democrats' Senate campaign arm misled the court. Peltola denies knowing of any scheme, and an Alaska lawyer says the new claims don't make the case stronger.
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