The target letter to attorney Marc Elias, who for years has represented Democratic campaigns as well as the party itself in election-related challenges, is one of multiple such letters that were issued, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
A target letter is a letter that the Justice Department sometimes sends to individuals whom it sees as at legitimate risk of indictment. The department defines a “target” as a person against whom it has gathered substantial evidence linking them to a possible crime and regards as a potential defendant.
News of the target letters surfaced on Election Day in a race headlined by two-term Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The race is among a handful nationwide expected to determine control of the Senate.
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman told reporters in Anchorage that the investigation has been ongoing for several months. But recent revelations from The New York Times that Peltola’s campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan have resulted in a “significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska.”
More than 100 subpoenas have been issued as part of the investigation, one of the people briefed on the probe said.
