WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has dramatically escalated its investigation into the Alaska Senate race and will issue dozens of new grand jury subpoenas on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter.
The subpoenas will seek information about efforts to recruit a candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
The escalation comes in the wake of a damning New York Times report about the scheme, which was reported to involve Democratic campaign officials. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola was also aware of the efforts, the report said.
Prosecutors are exploring whether to bring charges alleging a conspiracy to violate voters’ rights, according to a DOJ official.
The department, at President Trump’s direction, filed a civil lawsuit last week seeking to stop the state from certifying the results of the election should Sen. Sullivan lose with a “decoy” candidate known as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot.
