Stumping in Florida, Trump doubles down on calls for Peltola’s prosecution in Alaska Senate race
President Donald Trump renewed his calls Friday for Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola to be removed from Alaska’s ballot and prosecuted, doubling down on his accusations of election fraud four days before Election Day.
“This is voter fraud at the highest level,” Trump said at a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was campaigning for Republican candidates, including gubernatorial nominee Rep. Byron Donalds and Sen. Ashley Moody, ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“She should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted,” Trump said, adding that Attorney General Todd Blanche would ultimately make the decision.
Trump again accused Peltola of involvement in an alleged scheme to recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in an effort to confuse voters and draw votes away from the Republican incumbent. He offered no evidence directly linking Peltola to the effort.
The president’s comments came hours after federal prosecutors in Alaska confirmed a criminal investigation into the allegations and sought a preliminary injunction to preserve and segregate certain ballots in the closely watched race. The request targets ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher who shares a first and last name with the Republican incumbent. Federal prosecutors also requested expedited discovery as part of their civil lawsuit challenging aspects of the election.
The remarks were the latest in a series of attacks by Trump, who has repeatedly accused Peltola of election wrongdoing and previously called for her prosecution over the alleged scheme.
The developments follow a New York Times investigation published Wednesday that found Democratic operatives aligned with Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee worked to recruit candidates, including Daniel J. Sullivan, in an effort to draw votes away from the Republican incumbent.
The Times cited text messages, documents and interviews, including with Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios. Peltola has denied knowledge of the effort, and her campaign has denied involvement. The newspaper reported finding no evidence that the recruitment effort itself was illegal.
Trump has repeatedly characterized the second Sullivan’s candidacy as election fraud. He previously acknowledged directing the Justice Department to file a lawsuit seeking to block certification of the election results if the Republican incumbent loses by a margin smaller than the number of votes received by the other Sullivan.
Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy also ordered a state investigation this week into whether the alleged recruitment effort violated state law.
The state’s Supreme Court previously allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot. The state’s ranked choice voting system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, potentially limiting the effect of a candidate drawing votes away from another contender.
The controversy has intensified in the final days of a competitive Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber, with Republicans seeking to defend Sullivan’s seat and Democrats hoping to flip it.
Alaska is just one of several states drawing Trump’s attention in the final stretch of the midterm campaign, with the president restoring previously canceled campaign stops in Iowa and Kansas.
“I thought this was it. I thought I could relax,” Trump said, complaining about his aggressive campaign schedule.
The president said Republicans in both states had asked him to hold rallies to help secure victories in closely contested races.
“They said, ‘We just want to make sure that we win,’” Trump said. “And so, on Sunday, while you’re all watching football, I’ll be traveling.”
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