Sens. Murkowski & Stevens (Rs-AK) Get Nods In Two Alaska Trials = Corruption and Lavish Spending

[L. Coyote]

Stevens Gets Nods In Two Alaska Trials
By Laura McGann - September 12, 2007, 11:50 AM
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004162.php

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is well connected in the state's scandal circuit. He came up twice yesterday in two separate Alaska cases, one criminal and one civil, that both hinge on the financial ties between public officials and company leaders.

In the favors-for-votes corruption trial of former state legislator Pete Kott (who dreams of a topless beaches and a Barbados prison gig http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004152.php), the FBI played a videotape of a secret meeting (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/09/oil_execs_discuss_stevens_supp.php)between Veco executives discussing Stevens' arrival, just in time to support legislation they wanted pushed through the state legislature.

.............

Stevens' name came up again at a civil trial where a former contractor for Cook Inlet Region Inc., John Ellsworth, has been accused of illegally taking $40 million (http://www.adn.com/front/story/9296167p-9210894c.html%3Cbr%20/%3E) from the Native corporation... lavish spending on corporate jet rides for Stevens and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and trips to a Bristol Bay fishing lodge for politicians and their families .....

[WhiteTara]

1. hope they clean that cesspool completely n/t

[L. Coyote]

2. The FBI had to send extra personnel to AK for the corruption!

[L. Coyote]

3. Veco CEO Testified To Campaign Contribution Scheme In Corruption Trial

Veco CEO Testified To Campaign Contribution Scheme In Corruption Trial
By Laura McGann - September 13, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004173.php


Former Veco CEO Bill Allen testified (http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/kott/story/9298937p-9213454c.html) in the criminal prosecution of state Rep. Pete Kott (R-AK) yesterday, in yet another example of how he likes to keep pols on the hook:

"... Allen talked about overpaying a flooring job done by Kott by more than $7,000 and of scheming to get at least some of that money to Kott's son so that he could work on Kott's 2006 campaign, ............

Allen also testified that Kott joked about wanting a job handing out towels to women on beaches in Barbados (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004152.php), but that he had genuinely planned to give Kott a job as a Veco lobbyist, which pays $6,000 to $12,000 a month.

[L. Coyote]

4. TPM: Stevens: No Comment On New Bribery Charges

Stevens: No Comment On New Bribery Charges
By Laura McGann - September 14, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004191.php

I just spoke with Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) spokesman Aaron Saunders who said they are not commenting on the recent testimony from Bill Allen. Saunders said they are standing by the old statement they put out when Stevens' home was raided by the FBI. That statement, declaring that Stevens won't comment on the investigation "until it has concluded," is below.

But during a press conference in July, Stevens wasn't so disciplined, declaring that he'd paid "every bill that was given to us" as part of the home renovation. With Allen's testimony today, that line is looking more and more like the artful dodge it was suspected to be.

Stevens' statement: .....................

[L. Coyote]

5. Allen Admits Veco Employees Worked on Stevens' Home Renovation

Allen Admits Veco Employees Worked on Stevens' Home Renovation
By Laura McGann - September 14, 2007, 2:56 PM
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004190.php


It's getting juicy up in Alaska, as former Veco CEO Bill Allen testified again today. From the AP: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/09/oil_exec_workers_remodeled_ste.php

Under cross-examination by defense attorney James Wendt, representing former state Rep. Pete Kott, Allen acknowledged that the more than $400,000 he admitted spending in the bribery charge was for other legislators - and including for work done at the Girdwood, Alaska, home of Stevens, the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate.

"I gave Ted some old furniture," Allen said. "I don't think there was a lot of material, There was some labor."

The workers were VECO employees, probably one to four at a time, Allen said. He said the work on the home lasted for "probably a couple of months." Later, he said it might have been as much as six months.

Maybe Stevens wasn't getting all of his bills, after all?

Update: Bill Allen testified that Veco actually paid for some of the work. Rich Mauer at the Anchorage Daily News reports live from the courtroom: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/110609

...........

[L. Coyote]

6. Allen Admits To Bribing Ben Stevens

Allen Admits To Bribing Ben Stevens
By Laura McGann - September 14, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004185.php


The mystery is solved! (Again http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003172.php) On the witness stand yesterday Bill Allen identified the "Senator B" in his guilty plea as former State Senator Ben Stevens (R-AK http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/09/testimony_sen_stevens_son_took.php), son of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK).

Allen pleaded guilty to paying Stevens "consulting fees" in exchange for votes -- and made it clear that he's a briber with a big heart. ......