The Justice Department has significantly escalated its investigation into the Alaska Senate race, issuing over 120 subpoenas and more than 20 target and preservation letters in the probe concerning Daniel J. Sullivan's candidacy. The inquiry, dubbed the "Decoy Dan" investigation by the Trump administration, focuses on whether Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher, was recruited as a spoiler candidate to confuse voters and undermine the election of Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
Sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News Digital that the Justice Department launched its probe in July. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that "everybody agrees that there is a FRAUD on the ballot" and that Sullivan "is only running to confuse Alaskan voters." The New York Times first reported that the Justice Department had issued letters notifying individuals they were under investigation and to preserve communications and documents. The report named election lawyer Marc Elias and an official from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as recipients.
Former President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of the alleged efforts to siphon votes, suggesting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should be held "criminally responsible." The Trump administration previously filed a lawsuit against Alaska officials to prevent the certification of election results if Daniel J. Sullivan was deemed to have impacted the outcome, though the suit was dismissed by a federal judge. Trump also suggested on "Fox & Friends" that the Democratic Party actively sought out someone named Sullivan to run.
Sources indicated that the letters were not exclusively sent to Democratic officials, but specifics regarding recipients or the exact number of target versus preservation letters were not disclosed. The letters were not issued on Election Day.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has attributed the situation to the state's nonpartisan primary system, where the top four finishers advance regardless of party affiliation. He argued that under a historical primary system, Daniel J. Sullivan would not have advanced. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman officially announced the investigation at a news conference, stating that it was too early to assume a crime had been committed and that a thorough investigation was underway. The Justice Department declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.