DOJ Sends Target Letters to Democrats in Alaska Probe, Sources Say

The Justice Department is notifying about 20 Democrats that they may be targets of its Alaska Senate race investigation. The probe centers on recruiting a second candidate named Dan Sullivan.

100-plus subpoenas are being issued, ABC sources say; NBC reports 120.
Elections lawyer Marc Elias is among the reported recipients.
At least one Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee official is reportedly included.
It is unclear when letters went out or who received them.

Why it matters: The move comes on Election Day in a close race between Republican Dan S. Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola. The New York Times called the timing highly unusual.

Democrats say recruiting same-name candidates is common and not clearly illegal under state law.
President Donald Trump said Elias should go to jail.

The story so far

112 steps · since Oct 9

Oct 9–14
Oct 146:27 PMJustice Department Sues California Over Alleged Noncitizen Mail Ballots59 sources
Oct 15–22
Oct 234:53 AMTrump Admin Moves to Block Alaska Senate Result If Sullivan Loses83 sources
Oct 23–28
Oct 2810:51 AMDemocrats Accused of Recruiting Second Dan Sullivan in Alaska76 sources
Oct 28
Oct 283:05 PMFederal Prosecutor Confirms Probe of Alleged Alaska Decoy Candidate62 sources
Oct 28–Nov 3
Nov 32:01 PMDOJ Sends Target Letters to Democrats in Alaska Probe, Sources SayYou are here
Nov 34:22 PMDOJ Election Monitors Accused of Improper Conduct at Polls2 sourcesLatest

How 25 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 25 sources

25 sources · 28 articles · 40% Center coverage

Where they split: Democrats call the probe political weaponization of the Justice Department; the administration says the same-name candidate could mislead Alaska voters.

Center10 sources

Associated Press19hJustice Department has sent target letters in Alaska Senate criminal probe. Here's what that means Axios1dDOJ targets roughly 20 Democrats in Alaska election probe, reports say CTV News1dU.S. Justice Department identifies potential targets as it escalates Alaska Senate criminal probe KSAT 12 San Antonio1dJustice Department identifies potential targets as it escalates Alaska Senate criminal probe Newsweek23hTodd Blanche Responds to Alaska Scenarios as Trump DOJ Sends Target Letters PBS NewsHour22hJustice Department sent target letters in Alaska Senate criminal probe. Here's what that means The Hill23hDOJ sends target letters in Alaska probe to 20 Democrats The National Desk21hDOJ sends target letters to 20 Democrats in Alaska Senate race probe: report USA Today22hJustice Department sends 20 letters in expanded Alaska ballot probe WKBN Youngstown1dJustice Department identifies potential targets as it escalates Alaska Senate criminal probe

Left coverage, 9 sources: The left sees an Election Day escalation by a politicized Justice Department targeting Democrats, echoing Elias's description of a sham investigation.

Raw Story23h'Five-alarm fire' flagged as Trump DOJ hits Dems with target letters while votes cast AlterNet1dTrump's admin fires a desperate Election Day salvage shot ABC News1dDOJ ramps up probe of Alaska Senate race with target letters, new subpoenas: Sources Al Jazeera22hUS Department of Justice expands its probe into Alaska’s US Senate election CNN1dJustice Department sends criminal target letters in Alaska probe to people aligned with Democratic party Political Wire1dJustice Department Sends Target Letters in Alaska Inquiry Politico1dDOJ sends target letters to Democrats in Alaska spoiler candidacy probe The New Republic1dTrump DOJ Targets Democrats in Senate Race Probe Right Before Election The New York Times1dDOJ Sends Target Letters to Dems in Escalation of Alaska Inquiry...

Right6 sources

Just the News2dDOJ sends letters to people for suspected involvement in Alaska spoiler candidate probe Newsmax1dDOJ Sends 20 Letters in Alaska Senate Recruitment Probe OutKick22hTrump admin puts alleged 'Decoy Dan' conspirators on notice in Alaska election spoiler probe The Center Square1dDOJ sends letters in Alaska spoiler candidate probe The Gateway Pundit1dPOLITICAL EARTHQUAKE: Trump DOJ Sends Criminal Target Letters to 20 Democrats, Including Deep State Lawyer Marc Elias Over Decoy Dan Sullivan Scheme * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila Washington Examiner1dDOJ targets Marc Elias in Alaska Sullivan investigation

What’s next: A grand jury empaneled in Alaska is probing possible conspiracy and donor fraud offenses. Receiving a target letter does not guarantee charges.

The administration's separate suit to block certification was dismissed for lack of standing.
The Justice Department has filed a notice of appeal in that civil case.
Will the grand jury bring charges against any recipient?
Does ballot stacking violate federal or Alaska law?
Will the investigation affect certification of the Senate result?