Sen. Stevens Told to Keep Records for Graft Probe

[maddezmom]

Source: Washington Post

By Paul Kane
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Thursday, June 7, 2007; Page A01

Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, disclosed in an interview that the FBI asked him to preserve records as part of a widening investigation into Alaskan political corruption that has touched his son and ensnared one of his closest political confidants and financial backers.

Stevens, who is famous for bringing home federal earmarks for Alaska when he was Appropriations Committee chairman, was not previously known to be linked to the Justice Department's probe, which has uncovered evidence that more than $400,000 worth of bribes were given to state lawmakers in exchange for favorable energy legislation.

Investigators have used secret recording equipment, seized documents and cooperating witnesses to secure the indictments of four current and former state lawmakers, including the former state House speaker, shaking the core of Alaska's Republican Party.

Two executives of a prominent energy company have pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion charges and are cooperating with the inquiry, which is being run by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section and includes two federal prosecutors and FBI agents based in Anchorage.

"They put me on notice to preserve some records," Stevens said in a brief interview about his legal team's discussions with the FBI. He declined to say what kinds of records were involved but confirmed that he had hired lawyers and that his son, former state Senate president Ben Stevens, "is also under investigation."



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060602851.html?nav=hcmodule

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. I wonder if Fox News will get this one right?

or if they'll even bother with the story at all? Stevens will somehow mysteriously be labeled as something other than a corrupt Republican. It'll be interesting to watch how they handle this after the Jefferson/Conyers faux pas.

[Ian David]

2. Fox will say that Democrats are trying to "criminalize bribery" and that he's being persecuted...

because he's a Christian.

[annabanana]

3. coffee spray alert . . .keyboard replacement time..

It was only a matter of time before this crusty old crook got tied into that big stinky republican stew...

[Ian David]

4. Republican corruption is not a big truck. It's a series of tubes.

And Stevens sucks on a whole lot of tubes.

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. Dude....you're killin' us......

:rofl: :spray: :rofl::spray::rofl:

[Usrename]

16. .

:rofl:

[myrna minx]

15. That's a Duzy, if ever I've read one.

:spray: Stevens is going to get the internet tubes humming tonight.

[gratuitous]

5. Faux will cover it with a photo of Robert Byrd

You know, one old white guy or another; just like Conyers stood in for Jefferson in their report, because they have the same color . . . tie. It will be the merest coincidence that the guy they pick to look guilty will be a Democrat.

"Do you have anything to say before the court passes sentence, Mr. Stevens?"

"NO!"

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. You are so right. How anyone can mistake FNC as a legitimate

news outlet is just way beyond my comprehension. I hope the CBC will reconsider their affiliation.

[brentspeak]

14. Or they'll simply put "D-Alaska" next to Stevens' picture

[myrna minx]

17. FOX NOISE ALERT!!!

Senator Ted Stevens-D Alaska

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Senator Stevens Told to Keep Records for Graft Probe

Source: Washington Post

Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, disclosed in an interview that the FBI asked him to preserve records as part of a widening investigation into Alaskan political corruption that has touched his son and ensnared one of his closest political confidants and financial backers.

Stevens, who is famous for bringing home federal earmarks for Alaska when he was Appropriations Committee chairman, was not previously known to be linked to the Justice Department's probe, which has uncovered evidence that more than $400,000 worth of bribes were given to state lawmakers in exchange for favorable energy legislation.

<snip>

"They put me on notice to preserve some records," Stevens said in a brief interview about his legal team's discussions with the FBI. He declined to say what kinds of records were involved but confirmed that he had hired lawyers and that his son, former state Senate president Ben Stevens, "is also under investigation."

<snip>

Stevens has long been close to Allen, who formerly directed Veco Corp., the energy company at the heart of the corruption probe. Since 2000, Allen has contributed more than $50,000 to political and campaign committees controlled by Stevens. In 2005 and 2006 alone, Allen and other Veco executives gave Stevens-affiliated election committees $37,000, Federal Election Commission records show. A Stevens aide said the senator recently decided to donate contributions from Allen and another Veco executive from 2004 to 2006 to charity.

<snip>




Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060602851.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=new

[sandyd921]

9. Now it's just a matter of

who the last republiCON left standing will be (or maybe none of them will be left).

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[maddezmom]

11. Double trouble for Alaska congressmen

Double trouble for Alaska congressmen
Published: June 7, 2007 at 1:03 PM
WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- Two Republican congressmen from Alaska are dealing with fallout over earmarks and a donor they have in common -- energy company executive Bill J. Allen.

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, told The Washington Post that the FBI has asked him to "preserve records" for an investigation into possible corruption involving Allen, one of the senator's biggest supporters.

Stevens said he is complying with the FBI request.

Allen, a former director of Veco Corp., and an unnamed company executive pleaded guilty in May to bribing Alaska legislators. The executives wanted passage of legislation funding a natural gas pipeline. Veco stood to gain "billions of dollars," the newspaper said.

more:http://www.washingtontimes.com/upi/20070607-115418-9288

[Blue_In_AK]

12. It was a good day for reading the newspaper here

This story on Stevens, combined with this one http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2872704&mesg_id=2872704
on Don Young.

[maddezmom]

13. hell of a day

:D