参议员伯尼·桑德斯（I-佛蒙特州）表示，民主党在阿拉斯加的做法“看起来相当愚蠢”，此前有报道称该党参与招募了一名与现任参议员丹·沙利文（R-阿拉斯加州）同名的候选人，以分流共和党在该州的选票。“是的，坦白说，民主党在阿拉斯加的做法看起来相当愚蠢，但……这并不违法，”桑德斯在CBS节目《面对国家》中表示。
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said what Democrats did in Alaska “seems to be pretty dumb” following reports the party participated in recruiting another candidate who shared the same name as incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) to dilute the GOP’s vote in the state. “Yeah, frankly what the Democrats did in Alaska seems to be pretty dumb but…it’s not illegal,” Sanders said during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
“这在每次选举中都会发生。就在现在的俄亥俄州，有一位先生正在参选，据我所知，我不认识他，自称是社会主义者，而一个共和党超级政治行动委员会正在向他的竞选活动投入资金，”这位参议员继续说道。桑德斯指的是《政治客》的一份报道，该报道发现“Enough Promises Ohio”——一个与共和党结盟的超级政治行动委员会——总共花费了超过270万美元，既支持社会主义与解放党候选人格雷格·利维，又反对正在竞选以击败现任参议员约翰·休斯特德（R-俄亥俄州）的前参议员谢罗德·布朗（D-俄亥俄州）。
“It’s what happens in every election. Right now in Ohio there is a gentleman who is running who is, as I understand it, don’t know him, claiming to be a socialist fine and Republican super PAC is putting money into his election,” the senator continued. Sanders was referring to a Politico report that found “Enough Promises Ohio” – a Republican-aligned super PAC – spent over $2.7 million combined to boost candidate Greg Levy, a Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate, and oppose former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) who is running to unseat incumbent Sen. John Husted (R-Ohio).
“那么，为什么在俄亥俄州，一个共和党右翼超级政治行动委员会要资助一名社会主义者？答案显而易见。他们想从谢罗德·布朗那里抢走选票。这是好事吗？不，这不是好事。这是愚蠢的做法，”他继续说道。主持人玛格丽特·布伦南询问桑德斯是否应该对阿拉斯加的事件进行调查。“不，联邦政府不介入州选举，这是一个决定，”他回答道。
“So why in Ohio is a Republican right-wing super PAC funding a socialist? The answer is obviously obvious. They want to take votes away from Sherrod Brown. Is this a good thing to do? No, it is not a good thing to do. It's a stupid thing to do,” he continued. Host Margaret Brennan asked Sanders if there should be an investigation into the Alaskan matter. “No, that’s a decision the federal government does not get involved in state elections,” he responded.
“而且你有一位总统，他实际上否认自己在2020年大选中输给了拜登，由他来决定什么是公平选举、什么不是，这有点荒谬。阿拉斯加人民可以自己做决定。”桑德斯的言论是在众议员詹姆斯·科默（R-肯塔基州）周日早些时候告诉福克斯新闻，佩尔托拉即使赢得阿拉斯加参议院选赛，“也有很大可能”不会被接纳参议员席位之后发表的。
“And you and you have a president who in fact denied that he lost the election in 2020 against Biden for him to be deciding what is a fair election or not is a little bit absurd. People of Alaska can make that decision themselves.”Sander’s remarks follow Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) telling Fox News earlier Sunday that there was a “big possibility” Peltola would not be seated even if she won Alaska’s Senate race.
共和党籍众议员质疑是否有任何法律被违反。共和党策略师此前曾告诉《国会山报》，选票“堆叠”并不违法。这是一种常见做法，尤其是在阿拉斯加独特的无党派、前四名投票制度下。众议院监督委员会主席科默启动了对佩尔托拉涉嫌参与该行动的调查——安排了与佩尔托拉前竞选经理埃莉莎·里奥斯（《纽约时报》曾采访过她）以及民主党操盘手杰里德·库尔茨的笔录访谈。
The House Republican questioned if any laws had been broken GOP strategists previously told The Hill that ballot “stacking” is not illegal. It is a common practice, especially in Alaska’s unusual nonpartisan, top four voting system. Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, launched a probe into Peltola’s involvement in the operation – scheduling transcribed interviews with both Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager who The Times spoke with, and Jerid Kurtz, a Democratic operative.