Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to say if President Donald Trump personally ordered the lawsuit challenging Alaska’s Senate race results. He appeared on Sunday morning programs to address the legal filing but kept his private talks with the president off limits. According to the Washington Examiner, Blanche stated he would never discuss his communications with the leader of the country.
The lawsuit targets voter confusion caused by two candidates named Daniel Sullivan on the ranked choice ballot. President Trump told reporters in Florida on Friday that he directed the Department of Justice to file the suit. “I’m the one that said ‘do it,'” Trump said, referring to the legal action, per the Washington Examiner. The filing asks a federal court to block the November results if they are tainted by the inclusion of Daniel J. Sullivan.
Blanche Draws a Hard Line
Blanche made it clear that he does not disclose private conversations with the president. He told CBS News’s Face the Nation that he has no idea who Trump was referring to in some contexts. “I have no idea who he was referring to, and even if I did have an idea, I would most certainly not talk about it,” Blanche said. Regarding Alaska, the president made his concerns unmistakably clear to Americans, he added.
Blanche rejected the claim that the legal filing aims to block election officials from certifying results. He argued the goal is to preserve election materials in case evidence of voter confusion arises later. “All we are doing is trying to put guardrails in place so that if this happens, there’s a system allowed where the ballots are,” Blanche stated. According to The Washington Times, the administration seeks to prevent Alaskans from being deceived into choosing the incorrect candidate.
A Heated Exchange on CNN
The tone shifted sharply when Blanche appeared on CNN’s State of the Union. Anchor Dana Bash asked if the lawsuit was groundwork for overturning an election result similar to the events of January 6. Bash raised the possibility of a “doomsday scenario” where the president tries to overturn the election. “That is one of the fundamental questions—” Bash started to say before Blanche cut in.
“I mean— Oh, stop it!” Blanche interrupted, according to reports. He followed up by telling the anchor she was not being a real person. “Oh, you got to stop it with that. You are not being a real person. Come on, man,” Blanche said. The interview took place as the administration defends the new federal lawsuit ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.
Questions Remain for Voters
The core issue remains the potential for voter confusion between the incumbent Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan and former Forest Service employee Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. Both men share nearly identical names on the ranked choice ballot. The lawsuit centers on concerns that this could affect the outcome of a closely watched race. Disputed outcomes in this contest might shift the power balance within the upper legislative chamber.
Blanche firmly rejected the notion that the legal action is a precursor to a constitutional crisis. He remarked that the president does not hide his concerns from the American people.
