DOJ Says Peltola's Campaign and the DSCC 'Dissembled' in a Federal Court Filing About the Second Dan Sullivan, and Amends Its Alaska Complaint
Breitbart, citing Politico, says the amended complaint targets an Oct. 23 filing. Peltola's campaign denies any involvement in the second Sullivan's candidacy.
The Justice Department now accuses Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola's Senate campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee of misleading a federal court, Breitbart News reports, citing Politico.
The filing. In an amended complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, the department says Alaskans for Mary, Peltola's campaign committee, and the DSCC "dissembled" in an Oct. 23 court filing. In that filing they said they lacked enough information to judge whether Daniel J. Sullivan, a political novice, was running in good faith or to "confuse or mislead" voters. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward said, "Apparently emboldened by the success of their reported plot to deceive Alaskan voters, Alaskans For Mary and the DSCC appear to have turned to misleading this Court."
The background. The amended complaint follows a New York Times report that Peltola campaign lawyers and senior DSCC aides were allegedly involved in a scheme to find a second Dan Sullivan to appear on the ballot against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Times based its account on interviews, text messages and documents prepared for a possible lawsuit. Peltola's campaign has repeatedly denied involvement. Her former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, said Peltola was "definitely aware" of the plan, while clarifying that Peltola "was not directly involved."
The reaction. President Trump called the scheme "A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC" and said Peltola should not be allowed to run "after perpetrating such a terrible scheme." Gov. Mike Dunleavy has directed the state Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the scheme broke Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted, saying "the evidence will determine what happens next."
Note for readers: the "misleading the court" charge is the Justice Department's allegation in a filing, not a ruling, and the campaign and the DSCC had not responded in the Breitbart piece. The account of the underlying scheme rests on the Times's reporting, which the campaign disputes.