The Justice Department has issued target letters and additional subpoenas in a criminal investigation of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, sources told ABC News and CBS News^1,2.

The inquiry concerns whether Democrats helped recruit independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, a name shared with Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, in a way that could confuse voters, the outlets reported, citing sources and prior public remarks by Alaska’s U.S. attorney^1,2.

ABC News said prosecutors were in the process of issuing more than 100 subpoenas and at least 20 letters alerting people they are targets¹. CBS News said about 20 target and preservation letters have been issued and that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee received a grand jury subpoena².

Attorney Marc Elias was among those who received a target letter, sources told both outlets^1,2. Elias said in a statement that no one should be surprised the department was targeting him and his firm on Election Day and called the inquiry a sham investigation^1,2.

ABC News said the letters indicate an Alaska grand jury is examining possible conspiracy and donor-fraud related offenses, according to sources¹. CBS News said federal prosecutors have not publicly spelled out the crimes under review². A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately comment to ABC News¹.

Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have denied any connection to putting Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot, CBS News reported². CBS News said similar ballot tactics have been used by both parties and are generally not treated as illegal².

CBS News said U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman last week publicly confirmed a criminal investigation and attributed increased activity to recent news reports, denying that the department was timing steps around the election². A federal judge on Sunday dismissed a separate Justice Department civil suit seeking to affect certification of Alaska’s Senate result if Sullivan lost, CBS News reported².