DOJ expands Alaska Senate race criminal probe with subpoenas, target letters
ABC News reports prosecutors are issuing over 100 subpoenas and at least twenty target letters in the criminal investigation of the Alaska U.S. Senate race.
The story in focus
ABC News reports the Justice Department is escalating its criminal investigation into the Alaska U.S. Senate race, issuing more than 100 subpoenas and at least twenty target letters and preservation notices. Sources say a federal grand jury in Alaska is examining possible conspiracy and donor fraud offenses.
- Prosecutors are issuing more than 100 subpoenas, ABC News reports, citing sources
- At least twenty target letters and preservation notices are being sent to individuals
- Attorney Marc Elias is among the recipients, sources said
- A grand jury in Alaska is examining possible conspiracy and donor fraud offenses
- Target letters do not mean charges will ultimately be filed
Subpoenas and target letters
The Justice Department has continued moving aggressively in recent days to expand its criminal investigation into the Alaska U.S. Senate race, ABC News reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. Prosecutors are in the process of issuing more than 100 subpoenas along with at least twenty target letters and preservation notices informing recipients they are targets of the probe.
The target letters are going to Democrats whom investigators believe were involved in a ballot recruitment effort, an unusual step at this early stage. Among the recipients is attorney Marc Elias, sources said. A target letter does not mean an individual will ultimately face federal charges.
Grand jury and court ruling
According to sources, the letters indicate a grand jury empaneled in Alaska is probing possible conspiracy and donor fraud related offenses. ABC News reports the investigation accelerated last week after reporting on alleged efforts to recruit a retired teacher, Daniel J. Sullivan, to appear on the ballot alongside incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed a Justice Department suit seeking to block certification of the race if Senator Sullivan lost. She wrote that once ballots are cast, an investigation into voter intent would be impossible given the need to preserve voter secrecy. A DOJ spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What did Judge Sharon Gleason rule about investigating voter intent?
She dismissed a Justice Department suit seeking to block certification if Senator Sullivan lost, writing that once ballots were cast, investigating voter intent would be impossible because voter secrecy would have to be preserved.
Sources & further reading
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