By SUZANNE DOWNING
Oct. 31, 2026 – A source The Alaska Story considers reliable says that Mary Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, was offered or paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to retract her account of a decoy candidate recruitment operation that had been first reported in The New York Times.
Breaking: House Oversight Committee opens investigation into Peltola ‘Decoy Dan’ allegations
The hush money aspect of the Peltola expose is something that the mainstream media has had no curiosity about. It’s not certain that money actually changed hands or if the arrangement remained an offer.
But the allegation puts two details in the Times investigation into focus: Rios abruptly tried to withdraw her statements to The New York Times — tried to retract her entire account, not part of it. And the wrongful termination lawsuit she had been preparing against the campaign was never filed. She asked for a retraction, and then never filed a suit against Peltola. Why?
Rios was a longtime Peltola aide and campaign manager before being fired in August. She gave subsequently extensive interviews to the Times about the campaign’s efforts to recruit candidates who would pull support from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Then, shortly before publication, she asked to withdraw her statements and stop being a source.
The newspaper proceeded with its article, explaining that its interviews with Rios were on the record and were consistent with other reporting from other sources. Its investigation included interviews with 12 people and dozens of text messages.
The Times did not report that a payment or offer prompted her reversal. But the bread crumbs show that these incidences happened in the same timeframe. Demand that the interviews be withheld from the public, and her dropping the lawsuit against the campaign itself.
Means, motive, opportunity: If substantiated, a hush-money arrangement linking substantial compensation to a retraction would be of interest to Alaskans assessing why a source for The New York Times suddenly wanted her account withdrawn.
The Alaska Story previously received information alleging that Rios faced a threatened action from Peltola’s campaign to withhold her final compensation if she didn’t keep quiet.
For now, the Times has only documented her attempted withdrawal of the details of what was going on in the campaign — details that are now part of a criminal investigation. The Alaska Story’s source alleges a substantial financial inducement was behind it of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Peltola attacks New York Times over ‘Decoy Dan’ investigation, calls it a subscription ploy
Breaking: New York Times investigation ties Mary Peltola to Decoy Dan recruitment
New York Times goes hunting for ‘Decoy Dan’ — and finds a Kamala Harris voter running as an Alaska Republican
Breaking: New FEC complaint alleges ‘Decoy Dan’ campaign coordinated with liberal 907 Initiative
More dirty tricks: Even X gets confused about the Sullivans, suspends the Real Dan Sullivan’s campaign account three days before election
Bernadette Wilson pledges to continue Dunleavy’s election investigation if elected governor
FBI, DOJ discuss criminal probe, surge resources to Alaska in ‘Decoy Dan’ investigation
Suzanne Downing: Peltola says the system is ‘rigged,’ She should know, as the chief rigger
8 thoughts on “Hush money? Why did Peltola’s former campaign manager try to retract her New York Time story?”
And where is Decoy Dan? Abducted by space aliens? Worse?
I hope the Feds are monitoring embarkation passport control.
“………where is Decoy Dan?………”
He may have decided to vacation with Amber Lee in Ireland……….
This is why Democrats are Never fully held accountable
One they take the back room deals of being paid off to retract or to remain Silent
Two the most unfortunate one people begin disappearing never be found or found dead
You know what! Evasion to protect what little time they have on earth, is it more important than one’s integrity to follow the law, to be held accountable, to hold other criminals accountable? However if you don’t know Christ and your future isn’t secure In Christ. Than yes self preservation is worth much anything to prolong one’s Short life on this earth.
They probably should had jumped after all witnesses entered into a Witness protection program which is also loss meaning your previous identity is completely scrubbed and replaced. But that’s the consequence of Squealing against Democrat operatives .
Peltola’s latest statement (10/30) was that she would fire Rios again, and everyone else who ratted her out to the NYT. Why would Rios retract her earlier claim if Peltola threatened a second firing? M O N EY$$$$$.
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Desperate Mary and her thug Democrat controllers like Chuck Schumer in the US Senate have $$millions to spend ($35 million so far to Mary) in the last three days to try and rehabilitate Peltola’s name. It’s too late.
The damage is done.
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Vote only for Senator Dan S. Sullivan, Incumbent.
Furthermore the only reason why Americans still vote Democrat is because they are Stupid. If only their voters really knew the nature of the Democrat heart, it stinks like its form of governance and polices.
Under a true Democracy you don’t have freedom of opinion or to hold leaders accountable
That’s one reason I rather be a Republican and vote candidates who would protect and defend a Republic form of governance because of it’s allowance to dissent, debate, and freedom of opinions.
Plus Republican leaders don’t try to evade, destroy, and kill you for holding them accountable when they are caught being corrupt and doing wrong
Chuckie Schumer will do ANYTHING and spend ANY amount of money to steal this Senate seat so that the Left gets power. It’s not that complicated.
All part of the election fraud conspiracy.
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No money changed hands – it went directly to a numbered acct in the Caymans! (Allegedly)
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Crooks do crooked things.
Oh what a tangled web we weave
when we practice to deceive.