Murkowski calls for ‘truth’ from Peltola amid ‘pattern of lies and coverups’

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called for the “truth” from former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) amid what she said was a “pattern of lies and coverups” following reports the Democrat’s campaign recruited one of her midterm opponents to “ballot-stack.”

“While some may try to write this off as just how politics works now, ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process,” Murkowski wrote in a statement to The Hill. “Run and win on your merits: your views, your policy ideas, and your accomplishments.”

The senator continued that “by contrast, recruiting candidates to manipulate the field and influence voting outcomes is simply wrong.”

“Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign—what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials,” she concluded.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Peltola’s campaign, alongside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), attempted to recruit one of her opponents who shared the same name as the GOP’s incumbent candidate: Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have denied being involved with the effort.

“The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in DC. and did not recruit any candidates into the race,” the Peltola campaign said in a statement earlier Wednesday.

Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s mere presence on the ballot has angered the Justice Department, which filed a lawsuit earlier this month, attempting to block certification of the election if the incumbent senator loses. Alaska’s GOP-led government urged a federal court to dismiss the case Wednesday.

Murkowski previously advocated against the lawsuit, expressing on social media , “Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot.”

“The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit,” she added.

Though the alleged tactics are not illegal, President Trump stated he believed Peltola should not be allowed to run for Senate.

“I think the fake Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola, number one they should be taken off the ballot, and number two they should be prosecuted,” the president articulated on Truth Social.