Alaska Senate candidate denies knowing about alleged plot to put 2 Dan Sullivans on ballot

Key Points:

• The Alaska Senate race has become embroiled in controversy after reports that Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee attempted to recruit a spoiler candidate, Dan J Sullivan, to run and split the Republican vote.
• Peltola has denied any knowledge of the recruitment efforts, stating she only knew about herself and the incumbent candidate on the ballot and denies trying to trick voters.
• The Trump administration has escalated a criminal investigation into the matter, with the Department of Justice issuing subpoenas to Democratic officials and filing a federal lawsuit to prevent certification of the election results if the Trump-backed Republican Dan Sullivan loses.
• The lawsuit cites The New York Times report and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy's announcement of an official inquiry, highlighting the high stakes of the Alaska race, which is considered one of the tightest and could determine control of the U.S. Senate.
• The controversy and legal actions come just days before the midterm elections, intensifying scrutiny on this pivotal Senate contest.