Trump boasts he ordered DOJ to sue Alaska in bid to get election result tossed out if Republican loses

Trump boasts he ordered DOJ to sue Alaska in bid to get election result tossed out if Republican loses Attorney General Todd Blanche has declined to pledge DOJ’s independence from the White House and suggests he could file similar suits - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Donald Trump says he ordered the Department of Justice to sue the state of Alaska in an effort to block the results of a U.S. Senate election from being certified, unless the incumbent Republican wins. Government attorneys filed a lawsuit Friday arguing that the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot would confuse voters who support the sitting senator, Daniel S. Sullivan, in the unusual matchup of two Republicans with the same name against a Democratic candidate. “I’m the one that said do it,” Trump said Friday. “They have two Dan Sullivans.” Trump’s admission of an extraordinary intervention in the nation’s elections follows the president’s threats to overhaul election administration and assert federal control before critical midterm elections with the balance of power in Congress, and fate of his final years in office, at stake. Voters might “inadvertently vote” for the wrong candidate, according to the Justice Department. “To guard against this danger, it is vital that Defendants not certify any election result that may be impacted by voter confusion,” government attorneys wrote. That “voter confusion” could tilt the election in favor of the Democratic nominee, Mary Peltola. Recent polling suggests the Republican incumbent is neck and neck with Peltola, a former Democratic congresswoman. The Trump administration is seeking a court order that would prevent the state from certifying results if “Senator Sullivan does not win the election,” claiming that “had all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan been cast instead for Senator Sullivan and Alaska’s rank-choice process played out accordingly, Senator Sullivan would have won the election.” “The Democrats put up a guy,” Trump told reporters Friday. “I don’t think he ever voted before. All of a sudden he decides to run.” This is a developing story Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] OET HE OF SE