House Republicans want to know whether Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign helped put a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot in Alaska’s Senate race, and they’re opening an investigation to find out.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Kentucky Republican, announced Thursday that the committee wants to question two people: Elisa Rios, Ms. Peltola’s former campaign manager, and Jerid Kurtz, a Democratic operative and co-owner of Wingspan Strategies.
Letters to each ask for in-person testimony. Ms. Rios is asked to appear Nov. 5 and Mr. Kurtz on Nov. 6, days after Tuesday’s midterms.
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Both letters say the committee is looking into reports that the Peltola campaign recruited challenger candidates with a name nearly identical to Sen. Dan S. Sullivan’s, “with the intent to confuse voters.”
The letters describe Ms. Rios and Mr. Kurtz as “allegedly tasked with assisting in this effort” and say each has information that will help.
For now, the requests are voluntary. The letters say that if either doesn’t show up, the committee “will be forced to evaluate the use of compulsory process.” No subpoena has been issued.
The move follows a New York Times report Wednesday. The newspaper said it obtained text messages in which Ms. Peltola’s allies discussed recruiting people who share a name with Mr. Sullivan, the Republican incumbent. The Times reported the effort ended with Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg. He recently changed his party registration to Republican and is on the ballot.
“Democrats are the party of fraud,” Mr. Comer said in a statement. “Knowing they can’t win on the issues, Democrats schemed to rig the U.S. Senate election in Alaska by deliberately confusing voters.”
Ms. Peltola’s campaign has said it has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has also said it’s not involved with Dan J. Sullivan, though the Times reported DSCC staffers were on some of the texts. He has maintained he’s running on his own.
Mr. Comer’s probe comes after Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state investigation, and President Trump has called for Ms. Peltola’s prosecution.
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