Juneau supporter says he’s not confused as FBI begins reaching out to Dan J. Sullivan donors

‘I know exactly what I'm doing and I know exactly what they're doing,’ says Mike Pilling, one of 12 people besides candidate listed by FEC as contributors

This combination photo shows Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, left, in Palmer, Alaska, Aug. 17, 2026, and a candidate in Alaska's Senate race, Dan Sullivan, right, in Petersburg, Alaska, July 3, 2026. (AP Photos/Mark Thiessen/Becky Bohrer, File)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This story has been updated with details of the FBI’s visit to Juneau resident Mike Pilling’s house.

A ramped-up federal investigation into the U.S. Senate candidacy of Dan J. Sullivan included the FBI visiting his hometown of Petersburg on Friday in an attempt to contact donors, according to the Associated Press.

Among the 13 people listed as donors on Sullivan’s most recent Federal Election Commission campaign finance report, besides the candidate, is Juneau resident Mike Pilling with a contribution of $400. He told the Juneau Independent on Saturday two FBI agents came by his home at about 3 p.m. for an interview that lasted about 15 minutes.

"It was fairly cut-and-dried," he said. "They weren’t overly aggressive or anything."

Pilling said the agents asked about the donation, and if he knew the difference between Dan J. Sullivan and Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The Juneau resident said he told the agents he formerly lived and Petersburg and knew Dan J. Sullivan then, and wanted to support his candidacy challenging the similarly named incumbent senator.

He also said he doesn’t expect further contact from the agents — but he was contacted by an MSNOW reporter and also asked if he is willing to talk to The Wall Street Journal.

In an earlier interview with the Juneau Independent on Saturday, Pilling said if questioned he planned to let the FBI know his thoughts about the investigation.

"I tell them I know exactly what I'm doing and I know exactly what they're doing," he said. "I think it's more offensive what DOJ and the FBI are trying to do to the election than what we citizens are trying to do." The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday confirmed it is conducting a criminal investigation of allegations Sullivan, a retired teacher, was recruited by the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and Democratic party officials in the hope voters would confuse him with Dan S. Sullivan.

Peltola, her campaign, targeted Democratic officials and Dan J. Sullivan have all denied the allegations. However, a report by The New York Times on Wednesday — citing a dozen people, including a former Peltola campaign manager, and documents — reported an extensive effort to recruit as many candidates named Dan Sullivan as possible, plus other spoiler candidates.

The newspaper also noted the tactic known as ballot stacking is commonly done in various ways by campaigns and generally legal. But U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said Friday the newspaper’s report resulted in a "significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska" for an investigation that started months ago, although he did not specify what potential crimes are being investigated.

Among the 11 other donors on Dan J. Sullivan’s FEC report, eight are Petersburg residents, one is from Sitka, and two are from out of state. Donations ranged from $250 to $1,000.

Part of the federal investigation included an Anchorage-based FBI agent visiting a boat dealership in Petersburg on Friday in search of Charles Flint, who donated $500 to Dan J. Sullivan, according to the Associated Press. Flint told the news service he has known the candidate for years as a respected teacher and musician, and respected him for “throwing his hat in the ring.”

“I don’t feel like I’ve been misled at all,” Flint told the Associated Press, adding he had no intention of calling the agent but would “let him waste his time trying to track me down.”

Pilling said he’s a former Petersburg resident who knows Dan J. Sullivan and described him as "a stand-up guy." The Juneau resident said his opinion of the candidate isn’t affected by the allegations in the Times story if they are true.

"I don't care one way or the other," he said. "I think this has kind of been going on forever. It's kind of the Ralph Nader effect and Jill Stein. There's always been third-party candidates, more or less."

CBS News reported Friday that Dan J. Sullivan departed Petersburg earlier this week before the Times story was published. The network reported his location is unknown, but quoted a friend who said he and his wife are known as "world travelers."

The CBS report also noted its reporters saw "no indication of any active campaigning by the candidate," supporters of his said they aren’t confused about who they're voting for, and "the new spotlight on the town is not welcomed" by some residents.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.