The Justice Department has issued subpoenas in the Alaska Senate race, according to reports from two news outlets. The subpoenas follow a report that Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign allegedly collaborated with party operatives to get a challenger with the same name as Republican Senator Dan Sullivan onto the midterm ballot.
The Guardian's report, written by Chris Stein, said the department on Thursday issued the subpoenas in response to that report. The Guardian described the subpoenas as reported rather than confirmed, and it framed the challenger's candidacy as a "second Dan Sullivan" candidacy in its headline.
A CBS News video report by Taurean Small and Nana-Sentuo Bonsu stated more firmly that the Department of Justice has issued subpoenas in the Alaska Senate race. CBS News described the action as taking place "amid a shared-name controversy," and its headline placed the investigation just days ahead of the midterm elections.
The two accounts differ in how they characterize the subpoenas. The Guardian presented the department's action as secondhand, while CBS News presented it as a settled fact. Neither summary says who received the subpoenas or what they seek.
Neither summary reports a response from the Peltola campaign or from the Justice Department. The Guardian described the collaboration claim as an allegation, and the summaries do not state whether the campaign or party operatives have addressed it.
The CBS News segment also noted that President Trump is campaigning for Darline Graham in South Carolina. The summary includes that point without connecting it to the Alaska matter.
Sources: The Guardian: Justice department issues subpoenas over ‘second Dan Sullivan’ candidacy in Alaska Senate race; CBS News: Department of Justice investigating Alaska Senate race just days ahead of midterms.