Murkowski and Trump demand answers over Alaska ballot-stacking claims

Senator Lisa Murkowski called on former Representative Mary Peltola to tell the truth about what she described as a pattern of lies and coverups. She said ballot-stacking has no place in the electoral process and that candidates should win on their own views, policy ideas, and accomplishments.

Murkowski also criticized a Justice Department lawsuit filed earlier this month that seeks to block certification of the election if Senator Dan Sullivan loses. She said Alaskans do not need help voting for their preferred candidates and that the state has already distinguished the candidates on the ballot.

“To me, that's voter fraud at the highest level.”

President Donald Trump demanded that Peltola and another candidate named Dan Sullivan be removed from next week's ballot. He accused Democrats of an illegal scheme to confuse voters and said Peltola and any alleged accomplices should be prosecuted.

The New York Times reported that Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee attempted to recruit an opponent who shared the same name as the incumbent Republican. Both the campaign and the DSCC denied involvement.

The newspaper noted that ballot stacking is generally legal and has been used by both parties in Alaska. It did not establish criminal wrongdoing in the Alaska case or substantiate Trump's allegation of perjury.

Peltola's campaign said it is focused on lowering costs and fixing the system in Washington and did not recruit any candidates into the race. Alaska's GOP-led government urged a federal court to dismiss the Justice Department case.