Tim Scott Says DOJ Subpoenas Validate Warnings About Alleged Alaska ‘Decoy’ Candidate

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said he felt vindicated after reports that the Justice Department had issued dozens of subpoenas in Alaska. The National Republican Senatorial Committee chair said Republicans had spent months warning about an alleged effort to recruit a “decoy” candidate in the state’s Senate race.

Scott said the committee had raised concerns that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. was using campaign logos, colors and other materials resembling those of Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, the incumbent.

“Absolutely vindicated. We’ve been saying this for months,” Scott said Saturday.

He argued that the candidate, whom he called “Decoy Dan,” was running to confuse voters. Scott also alleged that others had colluded to recruit him, saying such conduct would be both immoral and potentially illegal.

A report published Wednesday said the campaign of Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and senior staff at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were involved in an alleged effort to recruit a candidate with the same name as Sullivan. The reported aim was to divert votes from the Republican incumbent.

Peltola has said she knew nothing about the alleged plan. Sullivan, meanwhile, accused her of continuing to lie about it. Her campaign denied any involvement, saying it had no connection to either Sullivan campaign and that Peltola entered the race to focus on lowering costs and putting Alaska first.

The two candidates appear on the ballot with similar names. The incumbent is listed as “Sullivan, Dan S.,” while Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher running without a party affiliation, appears as “Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.” Sullivan Jr. previously denied being a spoiler candidate and said he entered the race independently.

Scott pointed to what he described as similarities between the campaigns, including the logo, colors and font. He also said Sullivan Jr. had changed his middle initial and argued that the reported subpoenas could put him in serious legal trouble.

Scott cited federal election filings to argue that Sullivan Jr. had done little to run a substantive campaign. He said the candidate’s main action had been to put his name on the ballot, which Scott claimed was intended to confuse voters.

Scott also cautioned Sullivan Jr. about speaking with federal investigators, saying that lying to prosecutors is a felony. “I would be shaking in my boots if I was ‘Decoy Dan,’” he said, adding that the candidate should be careful about what he tells the Justice Department.

Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were contacted for comment.