The U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, Michael Heyman, has confirmed that a criminal investigation and a civil action are underway [1] in the controversy surrounding the “Decoy Dan” allegations and the Peltola campaign.
The alleged scheme involved Democrats attempting to confuse voters by placing another man named Daniel Sullivan on the ballot alongside incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska. The two candidates share the same name, creating the issue now drawing federal scrutiny.
Heyman addressed both tracks of the federal response. One involves a Department of Justice lawsuit focused on ballots, while the other involves an active criminal investigation into possible illegal voter deception and election interference.
“The civil lawsuit is publicly faced and is focused on preserving the ballots,” Heyman said. The Department of Justice filed the lawsuit last week before amending it on Friday.
WATCH: U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirms both a criminal investigation and a civil investigation related to alleged election fraud in the Alaska Senate race. https://t.co/Tp6i7R4MT4
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) October 30, 2026 [2]
The federal action asks a judge to issue a preliminary injunction that would prevent Alaska from certifying its Senate election result under a specific set of circumstances. That request would apply if Sullivan loses to Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.
The requested injunction also depends on whether votes cast for the other candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, could theoretically change the outcome. The lawsuit therefore puts the disputed ballots directly at the center of the certification fight.
Heyman also addressed the criminal side of the matter in unmistakable terms. “Anyone who tries to illegally deceive voters and interfere with the election will answer for it,” he declared.
Federal officials are aware of reporting from The New York Times concerning the alleged involvement of the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. That reporting described a “sprawling conspiracy” to support the other Daniel Sullivan.
“We are taking that extremely seriously,” Heyman said. He explained that officials were acting on the information “intensely” and “swiftly.”
The recent information has already changed the scale and pace of the federal response, according to Heyman. He said it brought additional law enforcement resources into Alaska as investigators pursued the allegations.
“This new information has resulted in a significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska,” Heyman said. His statement made clear that the inquiry is not limited to personnel already operating inside the state.
“As we speak, law enforcement around the country are taking investigative steps with respect to a criminal investigation on these matters,” he added. Heyman indicated that the newly obtained information had accelerated the investigation.
Michael J. Heyman, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, said the Department of Justice is aware of the New York Times report that alleges operatives linked to Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan — who has the same first and last name as GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan.
“The Justice Department takes every allegation of this sort extremely seriously when it comes to voter corruption or disrupting the integrity of the election process,” Heyman said on Friday.
“We will not let anyone or any group undermine the election,” he continued.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 30, 2026 [3]
Dozens of subpoenas have reportedly already been issued in connection with the case. That reported activity comes as federal investigators examine the alleged effort involving the second Daniel Sullivan’s appearance on the ballot.
Heyman said federal authorities would not permit anyone to interfere with the election. At the same time, he declined to provide additional details about the criminal investigation because it remains ongoing.
The case now includes a public civil lawsuit seeking to preserve disputed ballots, a requested injunction involving certification, and a criminal investigation backed by increased law enforcement resources. Heyman’s remarks also place the reported actions of the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee under intense federal examination.