FBI probes $500 donation in Petersburg as Anchorage race nears

Anchorage-based federal agents visited a boat dealership in Petersburg this week, marking a visible step in the investigation into U.S. Senate candidate Dan J. Sullivan. The candidate shares a full name with the Republican incumbent, a coincidence that has drawn federal attention to potential voter confusion. Agents left a business card for Charles Flint, a local dealer who has known the candidate for years as a teacher and musician.

Flint donated $500 to the campaign over the summer, believing he was supporting a long shot. He stated he knew the candidate would have expenses and respected him for entering the race. An FBI agent asked Flint’s son, who works at the dealership, whether Flint felt he had been misled about who he was supporting. Flint said he does not feel misled and has no intention of calling the agent back. He plans to rank Democrat Mary Peltola first on his ballot and the candidate second.

U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman told reporters in Anchorage that the federal probe has continued for several months. He noted that recent reports regarding Peltola’s campaign recruiting the retired teacher have led to a surge of law enforcement assets in the state. The Department of Justice also sought a court order on Friday to isolate specific Alaska ballots for review. This legal move aims to check for voter confusion in the upcoming election.

Agents also traveled to Sitka, where they spoke with another donor at their doorstep. That donor requested anonymity and said the interview lasted about five minutes. The agents asked if the contribution went to the intended Sullivan. In Groton, Massachusetts, Pat Campbell told the Associated Press that two agents visited her home on Friday. They spoke with her husband and stated they were investigating fraud in election contributions. Campbell’s husband confirmed they had not been defrauded and knew exactly who received their money.

The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, a ranked choice vote in a tight race. Peltola, a former congresswoman, is challenging the incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. At a rally in Anchorage on Friday, Peltola denied any plan to place candidates on the ballot to detract from the senator. She called the allegations garbage and part of a smear campaign. Peltola told a group of volunteers at an Anchorage aviation museum that she can beat the incumbent without help.

The FBI’s outreach spans at least two remote Alaska communities and a couple in Massachusetts. The visits occur as the election approaches and the inquiry widens. Heyman did not specify the total number of agents deployed or the specific criteria for selecting which donors to visit. The investigation remains ongoing as federal officials gather information from supporters across the state and beyond.