FBI Agents Visit Homes of Four Alaska Donors to Track Election Spending

Four out of twelve donors to the campaign of Daniel J. Sullivan of Petersburg have received visits from FBI agents, according to statements released on Monday. The federal investigation has targeted individuals who contributed legally to the challenger, a move that opponents describe as an effort to chill support for the candidate. This scrutiny occurs while rural Alaskans navigate a voting process that offers significantly less time than urban residents.

U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel confirmed on October 30 that the FBI has investigated potential criminal charges for several months. The agents tracked down people who gave money to the Petersburg candidate. Barry Bracken, a 79-year-old resident of Petersburg, was questioned at his doorstep about his contribution. He stated that he donated with full knowledge of who he was supporting. Bracken asked if federal officials planned to investigate donors to Senator Dan Sullivan’s campaign as well, noting that the two candidates share the same name.

The Alaska AFL-CIO and the 907 Initiative held a press conference on November 2 in front of the FBI’s Anchorage headquarters. Heidi Drygas, president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, accused the administration of using federal resources to intimidate voters. She argued that the focus on the FBI investigation distracts from problems with the Alaska Division of Elections. Drygas noted that voters in Anchorage and other urban centers have had 16 days to vote. In contrast, many rural voters have only one day, which amounts to 6% of the access time available in cities.

The Alaska Department of Elections lists more than 100 rural voting sites as open. However, at least 18 absentee in-person sites in rural communities failed to open on time or experienced problems during the early voting period. The Alaska Democratic Party and the Midnight Sun Independence Fund have filed lawsuits alleging election integrity issues with these rural polling sites. The state administration is led by Lieutenant Governor, who oversees the Department of Elections.

Legal battles are unfolding in federal court as well. Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the United States’ case against the State of Alaska on Sunday. The U.S. government had sought a pre-emptive ruling to stop the Alaska Division of Elections from certifying results if voter confusion might impact the outcome. The State of Alaska, along with interveners including Alaskans for Mary and the League of Women Voters, argued that the U.S. lacked legal authority to demand the requested relief. The United States announced its intent to appeal the dismissal immediately.

A Federal Election Commission complaint filed earlier this year accused the 907 Initiative of illegally coordinating with the challenger. The complaint centered on Amber Lee, a Democratic consultant who worked for the candidate while serving on the 907 Initiative’s board. Lee has denied wrongdoing. The 907 Initiative views the DOJ’s actions as federal overreach and a distraction from the issue of ballot access in rural areas. The Trump Administration has sought to challenge certification of the election, but only if the incumbent Republican loses.