FBI contacts donors in Alaska Senate candidate inquiry

FBI Enters the Petersburg Docks

Federal authorities ramped up their criminal inquiry into a U.S. Senate candidate in Alaska sharing a name with the Republican incumbent, as FBI agents began contacting campaign donors on Friday asking about potential deception.

An Anchorage-based FBI agent visited a boat dealership in Petersburg—a small fishing community accessible only by air or water where the candidate lives—and left a business card for local donor Charles Flint, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

Surge of Assets Prior to Tuesday’s Vote

The intensifying federal scrutiny comes just days before Tuesday’s ranked choice general election in a potentially pivotal Senate race. Mary Peltola is challenging Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, while the separate candidate named Dan J. Sullivan pursues a long-shot campaign.

BREAKING: Alaska Senate Decoy Candidate Dan Sullivan DISAPPEARS as US Attorney Announces Surge in FBI Agents to Investigate Peltola Campaign Scandal (VIDEO) https://t.co/zvMrUyEBKI

— https://x.com/KLSouth/status/2116338464014860365

Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman told reporters in Anchorage that the federal investigation has been ongoing for several months. However, recent revelations published by The New York Times—indicating Peltola’s campaign appeared involved in recruiting the retired teacher to run—resulted in a significant surge of law enforcement assets to the state.

Ballot Isolation and Donor Reactions

Alongside the field visits by federal investigators, the U.S. Department of Justice pushed on Friday for a court order to isolate certain Alaska ballots to investigate potential voter confusion.

Flint, who contributed $500 to the candidate over the summer, told the Associated Press that the FBI agent asked his son—who works at the dealership—whether Flint felt misled about which candidate he was supporting.

“I don’t feel like I’ve been misled at all,” Flint said in a telephone interview, noting he had been out of town and had no intention of calling the agent back. He added that he intends to rank Democrat Mary Peltola first on his ballot, followed by Dan J. Sullivan, stating, “Everybody knows who the incumbent is.”

Rally Defenses on the Eve of the Election

During a campaign rally held Friday at an Anchorage aviation museum, Peltola strongly denied any involvement in a plan to place candidates on the ballot to detract from the incumbent senator. Speaking to a small group of campaign volunteers, she called the allegations “garbage” and part of a “smear campaign” designed to suppress voter turnout on the eve of the election.

“I know I can beat Dan Sullivan. I do not need any help winning this race,” Peltola said.