Trump Attorney General Defends Alaska Senate Lawsuit as Necessary Precaution

Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday defended the Trump administration's lawsuit seeking to block the certification of Alaska's Senate election results, should incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan lose the race. Blanche stated that the legal challenge was a necessary step to prevent voter confusion in the closely watched midterm election.

President Donald Trump, who indicated he was the one who initiated the lawsuit, is not attempting to overturn state election results, Blanche told CNN's “State of the Union.” He added, "We wish that we didn’t have to do this. We hope for a resolution that works."

Republicans have expressed concern that another candidate on the ballot named Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, could draw votes away from the incumbent senator, potentially benefiting Democrat Mary Peltola. Peltola, a former congresswoman, has called the lawsuit "flagrant, flagrant corruption" and a Republican diversion tactic. Alaska's other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, also criticized the lawsuit.

Trump stated on Sunday that he believed the ballot was unfair because it did not adequately identify the incumbent senator. "At least let him use the name Sen. Dan Sullivan as opposed to incumbent, because a lot of people don’t know what incumbent means," Trump said.

Alaskan voters will see "Dan S. Sullivan" listed as a "registered Republican" and "incumbent," while "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr." will not have a party affiliation listed.

Blanche, who represented Trump as a personal attorney before being appointed to lead the Department of Justice, defended the lawsuit against suggestions that it was an attempt to lay the groundwork for election challenges similar to those preceding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. "We are not doing anything improper. We’re not doing anything we’re not allowed to do. And we have to let the process play out," Blanche said. "But I do think it’s important for the American people to understand that we are not — (and) President Trump is not — trying to take over a state election in any way shape or form."

Speaking to CBS' “Face the Nation,” Blanche described the lawsuit as an effort to "put guardrails in place" to preserve potential evidence of voter confusion. He clarified, "It’s not saying, ‘Don’t certify.’ It’s saying, ‘If a court ultimately determines that it was decided because of confusion and not the will of the voters, then we do not think the states should certify.’ And that’s consistent with federal law and consistent with even Alaskan law, if that happens."