Young cleared in Alaska case

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GOP Rep. Don Young will not be charged in a long-running federal criminal probe involving a corrupt Alaska business official who helped bring down former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), according to a statement from Young’s office.

Bill Allen, former CEO of VECO Corp., an Alaska oil services company, told the Justice Department in 2007 that his firm had paid as much as $15,000 annually for an annual pig roast fundraiser for Young between 1993 and 2006. Allen and other VECO officials also allegedly gave Young other personal gifts, including a set of golf clubs.

Young was only identified as “United States Representative A” in the confession by Allen, which was released last year. Allen was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in bribing state lawmakers.

In a brief statement released on Wednesday night, Young’s office said the longtime Alaska lawmaker will not face charges in the Bill Allen-VECO case.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40682.html