President Trump on Wednesday called for Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola to drop out of the race and be criminally prosecuted after it was revealed that her allies were behind an effort to bring a candidate into the race that had the same name as her GOP opponent.
“Mary Peltola should resign from the race. I think she should be prosecuted criminally for what she did,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews ahead of his trip to Ohio to campaign for Republicans there.
He said any of her allies who worked to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan into the race to compete against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan should also face criminal charges.
It’s unclear what law they could be prosecuted under as Daniel Sullivan met the legal requirements to run for office and, under Alaska’s ballot system, four candidates make it through the primary to the general election. Both Sullivans are on next week’s ballot with Peltola.
Top aides of Peltola were behind the recruitment effort, the New York Times reported. She had originally denied any involvement but Wednesday’s shock report revealed she was “definitely aware” of the scheme.
“They said they didn’t do it, and they did do it, and they got caught. And in fact, it was a plot by the Democrat Party, and frankly, they should be, I think they should be prosecuted. To me, that’s voter fraud at the highest level,” the president said.
Sen. Dan S. Sullivan appears on the ballot with incumbent and Registered Republican by name. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has no such distinction.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
