The FBI has begun contacting donors to Dan J. Sullivan, the little-known Alaska Senate candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent, as federal investigators widen a probe just days before Tuesday's election, the Associated Press reports.
Visits across the country
Agents have reached donors in at least two remote Alaska communities and in Massachusetts. In Petersburg, a fishing community reachable only by air or water where the candidate lives, an FBI agent left a business card at a boat dealership for Charles Flint, who has known Sullivan for years as a respected teacher and musician. Flint gave $500 over the summer to what he saw as a long-shot campaign and said the agent asked his son whether he had been "misled" about which candidate he supported. "I don't feel like I've been misled at all," Flint told AP, saying he plans to rank Democrat Mary Peltola first and Dan J. Sullivan second. "Everybody knows who the incumbent is."
In Sitka, two agents spent about five minutes at another donor's door, asking whether the gift went to the Sullivan the donor intended. The donor, who asked not to be named, called the agents "scrupulously polite." Pat Campbell of Groton, Massachusetts, said agents told her husband they were investigating "fraud in election contributions." "No, we had not been defrauded," she said.
The broader probe
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said the investigation has run for months but a New York Times report that Peltola's campaign appeared to help recruit the retired teacher caused a "significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska." The Justice Department also asked a court Friday to isolate certain ballots. Peltola denies involvement, calling the allegations "garbage" and a "smear campaign" to suppress turnout. "I do not need any help winning this race," she said.
The race, decided by ranked-choice voting, could be pivotal for control of the Senate.
Sources: PBS NewsHour, Associated Press