Federal law enforcement is pouring into Alaska after what the state’s top federal prosecutor called “troubling new revelations” in the so-called “Decoy Dan” scheme, an alleged Democratic plot to confuse voters by planting fake candidates named Dan Sullivan to steal votes from the real one, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Michael Heyman, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, held a press conference in Anchorage on Friday and did not mince words. “This new information has resulted in a significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska,” he told reporters, adding, “As we speak, law enforcement around the country are taking investigative steps with respect to the criminal investigation.” He said attorneys from his office have been assigned to the matter and that the allegations are being taken “extremely seriously.” His words: “We are acting on it intensely and swiftly.”
The investigation has actually been grinding along for “several months,” but what lit the rocket under federal prosecutors was a bombshell New York Times report tying Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola’s campaign, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, directly to the plot. Fox News had already reported that the DOJ fired off at least 30 subpoenas within 24 hours of those revelations dropping. Nothing like a little accountability to get the left’s attention. You can read more about the Decoy Dan Alaska Senate investigation as it continues to unfold.
Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the Times that campaign aides were specifically instructed to hunt for people named “Dan Sullivan” who could jump into the Senate race, all to muddy the waters for voters trying to cast a ballot for the actual senator. Rios said Peltola was not directly involved in the recruitment effort but was “definitely aware” of it. Peltola responded at a campaign event Thursday with a line that probably raised more eyebrows than it lowered: “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent.” She also said, “I am not interested in tricking voters.” Great, noted. Definitely something an innocent person would need to say out loud.
President Trump called on Peltola to drop out of the race and face criminal prosecution after the report came out. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has already filed a lawsuit to delay certification of the Alaska Senate election results. Heyman was careful to clarify that the department is not trying to declare a winner or change any votes. “It’s simply to preserve those ballots,” he said. The DOJ plans to ask the judge to grant expedited discovery by Monday.
Heyman also noted that he had been recused from the investigation because the White House was considering him for a judicial nomination. Once the White House nominated someone else for that position, the circumstances changed and the recusal was rescinded, freeing him to step in. Heyman wrapped things up with a promise every Alaskan should hold him to: “Every Alaskan deserves a fair election and they’re going to get one,” warning that “anyone who tries to illegally deceive voters and interfere with the election will answer for it.” The Democrats tried to run a con in the Last Frontier. Turns out the last frontier has a federal prosecutor.
