FBI Visits Sullivan Donor as Candidate Probe Expands in Alaska

Agent visits Petersburg dealership

An FBI agent from Anchorage travelled to Petersburg, where candidate Dan J. Sullivan lives, and visited a boat dealership. The community is accessible only by air or water.

The agent spoke with the donor’s son, who works at the dealership, and asked whether his father felt misled about which candidate he was backing. The donor, Flint, told The Associated Press he had given $500 during the summer to a campaign he considered unlikely to win.

Flint said he supported Sullivan because he expected the candidate to face expenses and admired his decision to run. He said he did not feel misled and had no plans to call the agent.

Officials confirm criminal investigation

The FBI visit came after federal officials confirmed that a criminal probe involving Sullivan was underway. Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said in Anchorage that investigators had been working on the matter for several months. Heyman said recent reporting by The New York Times about Peltola’s campaign and the recruitment of retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan prompted a “significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska.”

Peltola rejects allegations

At an Anchorage campaign rally on Friday, Peltola again denied taking part in a plan to put candidates on the ballot to draw support away from the incumbent senator. She said she was “deeply offended” by the allegations. Peltola described the claims as “garbage” and called them part of a “smear campaign” aimed at reducing voter turnout on the eve of the election.