Trump ‘not trying to meddle’ in Alaska election results by suing over Senate race: Blanche

Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday defended the Trump administration’s lawsuit to block certification of Alaska’s Senate results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses the race and argued that the legal challenge was a necessary step to avoid confusing voters in the closely watched midterm race.

US President Donald Trump, who said on Friday that he was “the one that said do it”, is not trying to overturn state election results “in any way, shape or form” on the cusp of the November 3 election, Blanche told CNN’s State of the Union.

“We wish that we didn’t have to do this. We hope for a resolution that works,” Blanche said.

Republicans fear that a second candidate on the ballot who is named Dan Sullivan – a retired teacher and school administrator from the tiny fishing community of Petersburg – could siphon away votes from the senator and tip the outcome in favour of Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman.

A day after the lawsuit was filed on Thursday, Peltola called it “just flagrant, flagrant corruption in my opinion” and a diversion tactic by Republicans. Alaska’s other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, also criticised the lawsuit in a social media post.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that he believed the ballot was illegal because it was unfair and that Senator Sullivan should be identified to voters as the sitting senator.

“At least let him use the name Senator Dan Sullivan as opposed to incumbent, because a lot of people don’t know what incumbent means,” Trump said.

Alaskan voters will see “Dan S. Sullivan” identified as a “registered Republican” and “incumbent” on their ballots, while “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” will not have a party affiliation.

Blanche represented Trump as a personal lawyer before the Republican president appointed him to lead the Justice Department, which filed the lawsuit in Alaska. Blanche defended Trump in his election interference case before voters elected Trump to a second White House term, effectively ending the criminal prosecution.

Blanche told CNN host Dana Bash that it was “crazy” for her to ask him if Trump was trying to lay the groundwork for the same sort of election challenges that took place before a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

“We are not doing anything improper. We’re not doing anything we’re not allowed to do. And we have to let the process play out,” Blanche said. “But I do think it’s important for the American people to understand that we are not – [and] President Trump is not – trying to take over a state election in any way shape or form.”

The lawsuit, he told CBS’ Face the Nation, is meant to “put guardrails in place” to preserve possible evidence of voter confusion at the polls.

“It’s not saying, ‘Don’t certify.’ It’s saying, ‘If a court ultimately determines that it was decided because of confusion and not the will of the voters, then we do not think the states should certify.’ And that’s consistent with federal law and consistent with even Alaskan law, if that happens,” he said.

Peltola, meanwhile, was involved in a car crash on Saturday night, forcing her campaign to delay rallies planned for Sunday and Monday.

“Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits,” campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said in a statement. “Mary is disappointed that the accident is delaying the start of her Alaska Always Tour and she is eager to get back on the campaign trail.”

The car carrying Peltola and her family was hit by another vehicle, according to the statement. A campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the other driver or any political motivation.

Polls have shown Peltola with a consistent narrow lead over Sullivan.

The campaign will reschedule rallies in Fairbanks and Peltola’s hometown of Bethel. There will be no changes to her events in Homer, Kenai, Seward, Juneau, Anchorage and Palmer.