Peltola denies role in recruiting namesake Senate candidate

Mary Peltola denied knowing about an effort to recruit a second candidate named Sullivan in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, as federal investigators pursued a criminal probe and Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state investigation into possible violations of law. Speaking Thursday in Juneau, the Democratic candidate said she knew of no other candidate on the ballot besides herself and incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. She also denied wanting to trick voters. Her comments came amid allegations that her campaign was involved in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whose name resembles the incumbent’s. A person familiar with the federal investigation told the Associated Press that grand-jury subpoenas seeking testimony or documents, along with records-preservation demands, were issued after reporting alleged the Peltola campaign appeared involved in recruiting Sullivan Jr. The person did not identify subpoena recipients or say how many were issued. The reported subpoenas and demands are investigative steps, not findings of wrongdoing. The allegations have not been established in the material reported publicly. Peltola has denied knowledge of the effort. Sullivan Jr. has also denied...