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In Alaska’s competitive Senate contest, a new television spot from Democrat Mary Peltola accuses Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of casting “the deciding vote” to keep Jeffrey Epstein-related records hidden and of taking money from Epstein associates and a man later arrested on sex-trafficking charges. An analysis of the record shows Sullivan voted in September to table a specific amendment that would have forced immediate release of the records, but he later supported separate legislation that ultimately made many of the files public.
Sullivan’s votes on release of Epstein-related records
The narrator in the Peltola ad asks, “Who’s the real Dan Sullivan? Sullivan claimed the Epstein files should be released, but when it came time to vote, Sullivan cast the deciding vote to keep them hidden.” The ad targets Sullivan’s Sept. 10, 2025 vote to table an amendment offered by Sen. Chuck Schumer to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Schumer’s amendment would have required the attorney general to make “publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to the investigations of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Sullivan voted with a 51-49 majority to table the amendment, which prevented it from moving to debate. At the time, his campaign spokeswoman, Amanda Coyne, said Sullivan “believes the DOJ should release as much information as possible on Epstein’s horrific crimes, while protecting victims,” a prepared statement reported by the campaign said.
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In the weeks that followed, however, Congress pursued a separate legislative path. After public pressure and developments in the House, the House passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Nov. 18, 2025, requiring the Department of Justice to publish unclassified Epstein-related records in a searchable, downloadable format. The Senate approved the bill by unanimous consent on Nov. 19, 2025, and President Donald Trump signed the measure into law that day, meaning Sullivan joined his colleagues in supporting the final legislation that released the files.
Donations described as from “Epstein associates”
The Peltola ad and campaign point to two donations to Sullivan as evidence of ties to Epstein associates. Federal Election Commission records show an $8,500 contribution from financier Henry Kravis to the Sullivan Victory committee on April 1 (year as recorded in FEC filings) and a $693 contribution from real estate executive Howard Lorber to Alaskans for Dan Sullivan on June 28. The Peltola campaign cites reporting that Kravis appeared in Epstein’s so-called “little black book” and that Lorber’s name appears in some released emails discussing real estate ideas. Vanity Fair and other outlets have previously reported the references; neither Kravis nor Lorber has been accused of criminal conduct in connection with Epstein.
Both of those donations occurred after Sullivan’s September vote to table Schumer’s amendment but also after the Senate ultimately approved the separate transparency law in November 2025.
Small contributions from a man later arrested on sex‑trafficking charges
The ad also claims Sullivan took money from a political operative arrested on sex‑trafficking charges. On Feb. 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced the arrest of Craig Scott Valdez on charges that federal prosecutors say involved using Snapchat to identify and groom juvenile females for sexual exploitation. FEC records show Valdez gave a total of $149 to Sullivan’s campaign: $100 in August 2024 and $49 in September 2025.
The September 2025 contribution came roughly five months before Valdez was charged. The Sullivan campaign says that, after Valdez’s arrest, it donated those contributions to the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault; FEC records show a campaign donation to that charity on Feb. 27, 2026.
Counterclaims and campaign responses
Sullivan’s campaign has pushed back by highlighting a Aug. 7 story in the conservative outlet Townhall asserting that Peltola has accepted more than $140,000 from individuals the article identifies as “associates” of Epstein. The Townhall story named several donors — including Reid Hoffman, Tim and Nina Zagat, Eric Schmidt and others — noting that some appear in released records or had social contacts with Epstein. Reporting cited by other outlets shows that Hoffman met with Epstein in the past and later characterized the connection as related to fundraising ties with MIT; none of the individuals mentioned in the Townhall piece have been charged with crimes related to Epstein.
The Peltola campaign told reporters the donations cited by Sullivan’s team fall into two groups: contributions made before the Epstein files were publicly released, and donations from people who appear incidentally in the files but are not alleged to have been associated with Epstein’s criminal activity. The campaign said it is in the process of donating a 2026 contribution from Tim and Nina Zagat to Tundra Women’s Coalition.
Campaign attempts to draw connections to Epstein have been used by candidates on both sides this cycle, and both campaigns in Alaska have highlighted donations and procedural votes as they seek advantages in a close contest. An open “jungle” primary under Alaska’s ranked‑choice system is scheduled for Aug. 18; the top four finishers will move to the November general election. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race a toss‑up.
