Watchdog Files Criminal Referral Over Election Law Violations in Pivotal Senate Race– slaynews.com
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EXCERPT:
A watchdog group has submitted a 114-page criminal referral asking federal prosecutors to investigate whether organizations behind millions of dollars in Alaska Senate advertising violated election law in connection with a candidate who shares Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s (R-AK) name.
The American Accountability Foundation filed the referral Wednesday with the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, seeking scrutiny of possible coordinated expenditures and contributions made in another person’s name.
The filing centers on Dan J. Sullivan, whose candidacy Republican officials have warned could confuse voters and siphon support from incumbent Senator Daniel S. Sullivan.
Democrat Mary Peltola is also competing in the race.
The referral adds to an existing federal inquiry into whether the similarly named candidate entered the contest to confuse voters.
Same-Name Candidacy Already Under Investigation
Alaska uses a nonpartisan primary in which the top four candidates advance to a ranked-choice general election.
State election officials initially removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot after determining that his filing was not made in good faith.
A state judge later reversed that decision.