Former Alaska legislator Pete Kott found guilty on 3 of 4 counts

[Blue_In_AK]

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/111100

Kott guilty on three of four counts
Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: September 25, 2007 - 3:05 pm

A federal jury has just returned guilty verdicts against former state Rep. Pete Kott on charges of bribery, conspiracy and extortion. Jurors found him not guilty on one count of wire fraud.

Lisa Demer and Sean Cockerham are the federal building reporting the story, including reaction from everyone involved and trying to speak with jurors. They'll be calling in information as they get it, and we'll be posting it here and on the main adn.com page.

The Associated Press just moved this:

Former Alaska lawmaker convicted in corruption case

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Former Alaska lawmaker Pete Kott, accused of trading his legislative influence for bribes, was convicted Tuesday of corruption charges.

Kott, who served as speaker of the House, was convicted of conspiracy to solicit financial benefits, extortion and bribery. He was acquitted of wire fraud.

The case spotlighted Kott's dealings with VECO Corp., which stood to make millions if a more than $20 billion natural gas pipeline were built.

The two-week trial carried wider implications, including testimony from VECO chief Bill Allen that he doled out more than $400,000 in bribes to various officials and had company workers remodel the home of Sen. Ted Stevens.

[Mabus]

1. Once again: Thank you Blue_In_AK for the update

I wonder if he'll get take his VECO CBC hat with him to prison?

Let's hope this is only the beginning of GOP corruption trials across the US.

K&R

[cali]

2. nice. now let's see things move on stevens.

looks like things are very interesting up there. thanks for keeping us posted

[Blue_In_AK]

3. The dominoes are falling.

:)

[AuntPatsy]

4. I hope the knocking down of each one reaches all the way to the white house front door.

[cali]

6. heh, heh

this is my favorite political scandal. Much more fun than Larry Craig. Looks like you folks are going to have a lot to talk about during that long Alaskan winter.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. It's EXTREMELY entertaining...

And from what we understand, the four congress critters that have thus far been indicted (with two convictions down now) are just the tip of the iceberg. The feds' theory seems to be that if they get a few convictions under their belt, recipients of future indictments may just plead out and get it over with. We are, of course, most interested in Ben Stevens, Ted Stevens, Don Young, and Frank Murkowski -- who has been strangely absent from the scene since his defeat last year. :bounce:

[cali]

9. What do you mean strangely absent?

As in no one knows where he is? And is there any hope at all that Lisa could get caught up in this? Please say yes, pretty please.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. There hasn't been a peep out of him

in the news since he went on his round-the-world cruise after he lost the election, although rumors are running rampant that he is deep into the VECO scandal. After all, he was the one pushing so hard for the deal for the proposed gas pipeline he had worked out with the Big 3 oil companies (behind closed doors) and for the 20% oil profits tax for which VECO was lobbying so hard.

Lisa's situation is a little more murky (sorry for the pun). She has accepted a lot of VECO campaign money, but I haven't heard much about any influence that she's been peddling, although I wouldn't be surprised. I'm sure there's a lot more to be revealed...there are hundreds of hours of FBI tapes.

[Mabus]

12. A early evening kick

Looking for recommend #5. I hope there is one more taker because this news needs to be spread a little more.

[roguevalley]

16. The complaint about her land deal hasn't been dropped.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. That's true.

I was just thinking specifically with the VECO cases.

No, they're ALL a bunch of shifty characters, and I'm sure we can do much, much better.

[roguevalley]

21. I want a list of the names of people VECO bought polls for. I am

sure Paul Fischer and some of the other shills will be on it. Fun reading, no?

[roguevalley]

15. I am waiting for Lida Green. :-D

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Breaking on FOX! Kott acquitted of wire fraud!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=353649&mesg_id=353649

[SalmonChantedEvening]

7. *Dragnet Music*

:woohoo:

NEXT!!!! (Hi Ted!) bahaha :rofl:

[Bitwit1234]

11. Gee I thought all the politicans from Alaska

were already locked up, all 'cept Stevens and he is on his way.

[provis99]

13. Alaska is odd

How is it that Ted Stevens and Mike Gravel can be elected from the same state? They seem to be polar opposites: I'm confused. Any Alaskans enlighten the rest of us on how politics works up there?

[Blue_In_AK]

14. It's too late tonight

but if I get a minute tomorrow, I'll give you some theories. I've been here since 1975, so I've been observing for a while. :)

[roguevalley]

17. Gravel was here before the oil companies bought everyone. he

left. I remember voting for him. We were once a dem state. But oil companies make things red wherever they go because Republicans are for sale.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. Thank you, Rogue, for putting that very succinctly.

I was going to go into that, too, but I'm really busy this morning and didn't get a chance.

BIG OIL corrupts absolutely. I want to see some of those guys take a fall, as well, not just VECO, which seems to me to be just Big Oil's waterboy. This scandal has the potential to be really huge, and I'm not sure why it's not getting more national play.

Like I said before, I guess it's not as "sexy" as bathroom stalls, etc.

[roguevalley]

20. Hi, Blue. Did you hear about Les Gara and someone else writing

letters demanding criminal investigations into everyone who took a bribe? CC on KUDO was talking to them and it appears that APOC is only going to give warnings on what is criminal behavior with a statutory life of five years. Could get interesting. :-)

[Blue_In_AK]

22. I think there should be some very nervous Congress critters

here in this state. I think the feds are just getting started. I would have to say -- IT'S ABOUT TIME! Just kind of sad that the state couldn't have taken care of prosecuting this corruption itself, but it seems that it went far, far too deep. I'm just sitting here patiently waiting for the big boys' names (and Lida Green just for you) to be up in lights, most notoriously my particular target, Don Young. I can't wait to see that old asshole get his comeuppance.

ed. I hadn't heard that about Les Gara, but I'm not surprised. And about APOC, I think it's interesting that they were pretty well defanged under Frank, almost like he knew there were unethical dealings going on and he wanted to stop the watchdogs before they could get started with any real investigations.

Where IS Frank, anyway???

[roguevalley]

23. someone said he was in the state on the down low and someone

else said he's back east working as a lobbyist for a foreign government.

[Blue_In_AK]

24. Wherever he is, he sure is being mighty quiet. n/t