President Donald Trump has admitted he personally ordered the Justice Department to sue Alaska in an extraordinary bid to block certification of its Senate election results if Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses.
'I'm the one that said do it,' Trump told reporters Friday as he arrived in Florida for a campaign rally, confirming his role in the lawsuit filed by his administration late Thursday.
The lawsuit seeks to prevent Alaska from certifying the results of its November 3 Senate race under specific circumstances, arguing that voters could be confused by the presence of two candidates with nearly identical names.
Trump has accused Democrats of putting forward a rival named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr to sway votes away from the sitting senator, who is fighting to hold his seat against Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.
Daniel J Sullivan Jr, a retired teacher from the small Alaskan fishing community of Petersburg, has denied allegations that he is deliberately trying to confuse voters or working with Democrats.
The lawsuit marks an unusual intervention by the federal government into a state-run election before voters have even cast their ballots.
Peltola and Sullivan are in a tight race, according to a Data for Progress poll conducted October 8–16, with Peltola leading Sullivan 51 percent to 49 percent.
The Justice Department argues that the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr could mislead voters who intend to support the incumbent, potentially affecting the outcome of a race that could help determine control of the Senate.
'I'm the one that said do it,' Trump told reporters Friday as he arrived in Florida for a campaign rally, confirming his role in the lawsuit filed by his administration late Thursday
In the DOJ court filing, the department alleges that the second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan's 'sole purpose' is to benefit Peltola by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan
According to a Data for Progress poll conducted October 8–16, Peltola leads Sullivan 51 percent to 49 percent
In its court filing, the department alleges that the second candidate's 'sole purpose' is to benefit Peltola by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan.
But Alaska's courts have already ruled that the other Sullivan can remain on the ballot.
Federal officials are asking a judge to prevent certification if the incumbent loses by a margin that could have been overcome had votes cast for his namesake instead gone to him.
They also want an investigation into whether the results were affected by voter confusion.
The lawsuit does not automatically stop the election or invalidate any ballots. A court would have to grant the requested relief.
State election officials initially moved to remove him, but a state court ordered him reinstated in June, with Alaska's Supreme Court later upholding that decision.
The incumbent will appear on the ballot as a registered Republican and the sitting senator, distinguishing him from the other candidate.
The Democratic campaign has also pushed back against the administration's intervention, with Peltola's side calling the lawsuit a political threat and vowing to defend Alaskans' right to have their votes counted.
The lawsuit comes as Trump has sought to expand the federal government's role in election administration, prompting concerns from critics that his administration could challenge results in races where Republicans fall short.
Earlier this week, Trump had attacked the second Sullivan's candidacy on social media, calling it a 'SCAM' and threatening legal action.
According to a Data for Progress poll conducted October 8–16, Peltola leads Sullivan 51 percent to 49 percent.
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