Local coverage of Alaska Republican corruption trial...

[Blue_In_AK]

Allen says Veco paid for part of Stevens' remodel
BOMBSHELL: Courtroom gasps could be heard during testimony.

By RICHARD MAUER and LISA DEMER
Anchorage Daily News

Published: September 15, 2007
Last Modified: September 15, 2007 at 02:41 AM

Former Veco chairman Bill Allen might have been on the witness stand to present bribery evidence against a state legislator, but the biggest shock of the day -- perhaps the entire trial -- was his assertion Friday that he or his company financed a substantial portion of the remodeling of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' Girdwood home.

As he testified for the third day in the bribery, extortion and conspiracy trial of former House Speaker Pete Kott, R-Eagle River, gasps emerged around the crowded courtroom when Allen admitted he provided workers and some material for the 2000 building project that doubled the size of Stevens' official residence.

And that was only one of the revelations outside the scope of Kott's specific charges. Another former Veco official, Rick Smith, followed Allen to the witness stand and was asked by one of the prosecutors, Nicholas Marsh, to name the legislators whom he bribed. "That would be Vic Kohring, Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch," Smith said, naming three former House Republicans who have already been indicted.

"And the state Senate -- did you plead guilty to bribing anyone in the state Senate?" Marsh asked. "That would be Ben Stevens and John Cowdery," Smith responded, naming two Anchorage Republicans. One is Sen. Ted Stevens' son and the former Senate president, the other a current sitting senator.

<snip>

Allen's role in the remodeling has been the subject of widespread speculation since May, when the Daily News reported that it had become part of the far-reaching FBI investigation into Alaska political corruption. Ted Stevens denied wrongdoing and the FBI refused to comment, though in July FBI and IRS agents spent nearly 12 hours searching the house and documenting the addition.

In response to cross examination by Jim Wendt, Kott's attorney, who was seeking to discredit Allen and minimize the role that Kott played in the scandal, Allen testified that one to four Veco employees worked for months on the project. He also acknowledged Veco paid some of the contractors and that it supplied some of the furniture.

<snip>



Much more here: http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/9305230p-9218615c.html

[cali]

1. Delicious.

But what I want to know is will he retire?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Your guess is as good as mine....

He refuses to talk to the media here citing "ongoing investigation," and has given no indication at all that he is giving up. He's a stubborn old codger.

[bleever]

3. K&R.

Ted's going down the (series of) tubes.

[L. Coyote]

4. k & r + Will Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) Resign This Week?

Will Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) Resign This Week? He finally has his road to nowhere.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1816831