Peltola campaign disputes report alleging mistreatment of staff

Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign has disputed a New York Times report alleging that the former Alaska congresswoman repeatedly mistreated aides, including through profane outbursts and displays of anger, slurs and an incident in which she allegedly shoved a staff member.

The Times based its account on text messages and interviews with nine former employees from Peltola’s congressional office and campaigns. Several former Peltola aides who requested anonymity told the Times about profane outbursts and displays of anger. Peltola served in the U.S. House from 2022 until the beginning of last year and is now set to face Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in the 3 November midterm elections.

Campaign spokesperson Harry Child said the report exaggerated or misrepresented episodes from a period when Peltola was grieving the deaths of her husband, who died in a 2023 plane crash, and her mother. Child acknowledged that Peltola “sometimes struggled to deal with her grief,” but said she treats employees with respect and maintains positive relationships with staff from nearly three decades in public service.

Former aides offered differing accounts. Paul Horner, Peltola’s 2022 finance director, called her “one of the finest human beings” he had worked for. Former special assistant Tyson Fick described her as “awesome and demanding” and acknowledged that she occasionally raised her voice.

Sullivan called the reported conduct “sad” and “disturbing” and said young Alaskans working for Peltola had experienced abuse. Peltola avoids questions over NYT story documenting volatile behavior towards staff, according to Alaska’s News Source.