Judge Dismisses DOJ Suit Over Two Dan Sullivans in Alaska Senate Race; Peltola Denies Knowledge

A federal judge in Alaska on Sunday dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit over two Senate candidates with nearly identical names. In a 20-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason wrote that the government failed to explain its legal authority or how the alleged fraud could be addressed while keeping ballots secret. She added that segregating ballots for a future investigation would likely confuse voters and keep them from the polls. The DOJ had claimed Daniel J. Sullivan filed his candidacy to mislead voters by sharing a name with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. A DOJ spokesperson said the department will file a notice of appeal, saying the dismissal was procedural. Separately, Democrat Mary Peltola said Thursday she knew nothing about any other candidate besides herself and the incumbent. The New York Times had reported that her team worked with people who tried to recruit spoiler candidates. Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an inquiry earlier this week.

The Daily Caller, a right-leaning outlet, leads with the ruling. Its headline calls Gleason Obama-appointed, and the article notes her 2011 nomination while quoting her reasoning and the DOJ's appeal plan. The excerpt does not mention Peltola. BBC News, in the alternative category, takes a different angle. It leads with Peltola's denial and quotes her, then covers the Trump administration's escalating criminal probe, the ballot-separation request, the Dunleavy inquiry and the incumbent's allies accusing Democrats of confusing voters. Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had. Those covering it focus on the court ruling and on Peltola's denial, respectively.