DOJ Issues Target Letters in Alaska Election Probe

The Justice Department has intensified its criminal investigation into the 2026 Alaska Senate race by issuing target letters to key figures, including prominent Democratic attorney Marc Elias. These letters indicate that the department has gathered substantial evidence linking the recipients to a possible crime, though they do not guarantee an indictment. The move marks a sharp escalation in a probe that has examined whether the candidacy of retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan was engineered to confuse voters and siphon votes from incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

The investigation has been active for months but accelerated after a New York Times report indicated that the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola was involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan. According to individuals briefed on the matter, the department has issued over 100 subpoenas and sent records preservation orders. The FBI also conducted home visits to donors of Dan J. Sullivan over the weekend. Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman stated that these developments led to a surge in law enforcement assets in the state, while noting that authorities are not assuming a crime has occurred.

Peltola has maintained she was unaware of the effort to place Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot, telling reporters she is not interested in tricking voters. Democrats, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, have denied involvement in the candidacy, and Dan J. Sullivan has long stated he was not running at their behest. Attorney General Todd Blanche described the situation as a man running solely to create confusion, adding that the department is fighting to stop the process. He declined to confirm the target letters, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry.

Elias, who served as general counsel for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, has been a frequent target of President Trump’s legal challenges. His firm paid for the research that produced the Steele dossier, which led to a dispute over security clearances that was later blocked by courts. In a statement, Elias said the department’s move to target him and his firm on Election Day fits a pattern of using the DOJ against political enemies without evidence of wrongdoing.

The legal strategy surrounding the investigation faces hurdles in court. As of Tuesday evening, the Justice Department had not appealed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason. Gleason dismissed the department’s attempt to halt the certification of Peltola’s win until the investigation concluded. The judge cited the administration’s failure to explain how it could determine voter confusion while preserving ballot secrecy. The dismissal came without a hearing, even as the Republican-run state of Alaska criticized the federal government’s move in court filings.