Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens indicted; accused of concealing gifts
Originally published Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 9:03 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.
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By R.A. DILLON
For the News-Miner
WASHINGTON—Sen. Ted Stevens was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on seven criminal counts of failing to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and services from oil-field services company VECO Corp. and its executives.
Stevens, the longest serving Republican in the history of the Senate and an icon in Alaska politics, has been charged with failing to list the gifts on his annual Senate financial disclosure form, the Department of Justice announced in a news release and a news conference.
Stevens released a statement Tuesday declaring his innocence.
“It saddens me to learn that these charges have been brought against me,” Stevens said in the statement. “I have never knowingly submitted a false disclosure form required by law as a U.S. Senator.”
“The impact of these charges on my family disturbs me greatly,” Stevens said. “I am innocent of these charges and intend to prove that.”
Stevens, 84, is the latest Alaska lawmaker to be charged in a broad investigation by the Justice Department into political corruption in the state that began in 2004.
The investigation has so far resulted in seven convictions, including the prison sentences of former state Reps. Pete Kott, Tom Anderson and Vic Kohring, all Republicans.
Federal prosecutors said Stevens received more than $250,000 in gifts and services from former VECO chief executive Bill Allen and others between May 1999 and August 2006. The gifts included substantial amounts of material and labor for the renovation of Stevens’ home in Girdwood.
Agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service searched Stevens’ Girdwood home in July 2007, looking for evidence related to the VECO-funded renovation, which doubled the size of the residence.
Allen, a longtime friend and supporter of Stevens, and former VECO vice president Rick Smith pleaded guilt in May to bribing state lawmakers and have been cooperating with the investigation.
The indictment unveiled Tuesday at the Justice Department’s Washington headquarters alleges VECO executives, from 2000 to 2006, paid for a new first floor, garage, wrap-around deck, plumbing and wiring, as well a new Viking gas grill, tool cabinet, tools and furniture.
Allen testified before a grand jury that he paid for the renovations to Stevens’ home. Stevens has said he paid every bill that he was given.
Stevens never paid Allen or VECO for the expenses or declared them on his financial disclosure forms, said Matthew Friedrich, acting assistant attorney general for Justice’s Criminal Division. Friedrich spoke at a mid-afternoon news conference.
The items Stevens is alleged to have received include “substantial amounts of material and labor used in renovation of a private residence” and include the addition of a new first floor with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms and a finished full basement,” Friedrich said at the news conference. “VECO contractors and employees performed significant portions of the renovations.”
Stevens is also charged with failing to report swapping Allen a 1964 Ford Mustang and $5,000 for a new Land Rover Discovery, worth $44,000, in 1999.
“The indictment alleges that, during each of those years, Stevens knowingly failed to report his receipt of any thing of value from Allen, VECO or two other individuals, despite the fact that the forms required Stevens to report his receipt of such things of value” according to a Department of Justice news release.
The Justice Department news release notes the senators are required, by the Ethics in Government Act, “to file a financial disclosure form, detailing specified financial transactions that the elected official engaged in during the prior calendar year, including disclosure of gifts over a specified monetary amount and disclosure of liabilities in excess of $10,000 owed during any point of a calendar year.”
The indictment says “Stevens also made and caused to be made multiple false representations to his friends, his staff, and the media concerning the improvements at the Girdwood Residence and Stevens' receipt of things of value from Allen and VECO.”
The government also alleges that Stevens, during the time period covered by the receiving of gifts, "accepted solicitations for multiple official actions from Allen and other VECO employees, and knowing that Stevens could and did use his official position and his office on behalf of VECO during that same time period."
The indictment says “solicitations for official action, some of which were made directly to Stevens,” included “funding requests and other assistance with certain international VECO projects and partnerships, including those in Pakistan and Russia...” “requests for multiple federal grants and contracts to benefit VECO, its subsidiaries, and its business partners, including grants from the National Science Foundation to a VECO subsidiary,...” and “assistance on both federal and state issues in connection with the effort to construct a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope Region.”
Justice Department officials stressed the indictment does not accuse Stevens of bribery.
“This indictment does not allege a quid pro quo,” Friedrich said.
The Justice Department is also looking into the actions of Stevens’ son, former state Senate President Ben Stevens, and whether he benefited from the millions of dollars in federal funding the elder Stevens funneled to the state.
Ben Stevens has not been charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.
Friedrich said Stevens would not be arrested and would be allowed to turn himself into authorities. It was still to be determined whether Stevens would surrender himself to authorities in Washington or Alaska, Friedrich said.
Stevens, former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has served in Congress for nearly 40 years. He is the first sitting U.S. senator to face federal indictment since 1993.
Stevens, who was appointed to the Senate in 1968, was preparing to return to Alaska on Friday to campaign for election to a seventh full term. He is facing a number of challengers in the GOP primary next month.
Stevens’ Washington-based attorney, Brendan Sullivan, received a telephone call Tuesday morning notifying him of the indictment. Stevens most recent financial disclosure form shows that he owes between $15,000 and $50,000 to the law firm of Williams and Connolly.
Stevens said he would temporarily step down from his position as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee until the case is resolved.
“In accordance with Senate Republican Conference rules, I have temporarily relinquished my vice-chairmanship and ranking positions until I am absolved of these charges,” he said.
Stevens is a member of the Senate Appropriations, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Rules and Administration committees.
Reaction on Capitol Hill was mostly muted Tuesday afternoon.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he had just learned of the news when contacted by reporters and said the Republican Conference would comment later.
Rep. Don Young called Stevens this morning after learning of the indictment to voice his support for the embattled senator.
“It’s a sad day for him, us, but I believe in the American system of justice and the presumption of innocence,” Young said in a prepared statement. “Stevens is one of the most effective and honest legislators I’ve ever worked with. He has worked diligently to serve Alaska and has sought to make life better for people in every region of our state.”
"I hope Alaskans will not rush to judgment and will let the judicial process work its way through our legal system, one that is based upon innocent until proven guilty,” Young said.
Mike Anderson, Young’s spokesman and chief of staff, said Young remains a loyal supporter of Stevens.
“The congressman still considers Sen. Stevens a good personal friend and a great statesman. Mr. Young continues to support him.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she was “shocked” to hear Stevens had been indicted.
“I know Ted Stevens to be an honorable, hard-working Alaskan who has served our state well for as long as we have been a state,” she said in a prepared statement. “As to the charges, we are at the beginning of the criminal process and there is a judicial procedure in place that will be followed.”
Michael Brumas, spokesman for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, said the office would have no further comment.
“All of us have times that we have to deal with that are tough,” Said Sen. John Warner, R-Va. “I wish him the best.”
Stevens longtime friend, Sen. Daniel Inouye said he believed Stevens was innocent, but said he wasn’t surprised by the indictment.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised because he’s been under investigation for so long,” Inouye told reporters at the Capitol.
Stevens, first elected in 1968, has been hoping to add to his tenure in the Senate with another six-year term. A recent survey from Rasmussen Reports showed Democratic challenger and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich with a lead over the incumbent when voters were asked who they favored today.
Stevens re-election campaign released a statement saying the campaign would continue.
“Senator Stevens’ campaign for re-election is continuing to move full steam ahead,” said Aaron Saunders, campaign spokesman. “Our office has been flooded today with calls and emails from supporters urging the Senator to press on. The message from them is clear: Alaska needs Ted Stevens in the U.S. Senate.”
Ted Stevens has by all reports been successful in steering money toward projects in Alaska. The state’s image, however, has steered toward that of a “pork barrel” state over the past couple of years, partly due to a controversial bridge project proposed to be built largely with federal funding.
Stevens first came to Alaska in 1953 to be a lawyer.
He was a World War II veteran with a new bride, a Harvard law degree and an affinity for the West bred from his teenage years in California.
Stevens worked in private practice in Fairbanks but quickly abandoned the job to become a federal prosecutor.
Over the next 15 years, Stevens moved back-and-forth between Alaska and Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Department of the Interior, using his position to push for statehood.
In 1968, Gov. Walter Hickel appointed Stevens to the U.S. Senate, replacing Sen. Bob Bartlett, who had died. Stevens resigned as member of the Alaska House of Representatives and moved to Washington.
A special election in 1970 kept Stevens in office. After his 1972 re-election, an Associated Press report quoted him as saying, “I’ll treat every day of the next six years as if the campaign will happen again tomorrow.”
Stevens has handily won re-election every six years since.
Staff writer Amanda Bohman contributed to this report.
Community Discussion
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The finally got him. No wonder he wasn't going to the National Convention. All those years of public service, was it worth it Uncle Ted. Now they need to get all those who have benefited from his corruption. Hello Senator Begich.
Well, it is about time.
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Now get the rest of them..
There you have it. Hopefully people will start cracking down on the officials in this state. Next up, let's get to the bottom of this Palin issue!
Begich?
Hello, Senator Parnell!
lol
Well, well, well... the poop hit the spinning blade and Uncle Ted didn't duck fast enough this time.
At this rate we may not have to VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION CYCLE.
Interestingly, CNBC initially did not mention what party he was from, though in updates later they did mention that he was a Republican.
Interesting timing, with the Republicant primary coming up. Politics is sure a fun game, huh?
endotheroad,
wouldn't kid yourself, ... cnbc is a part of the NBC family, they are more than ready to jump on the conservatives, any chance they get...
The initial story broke from a local source in Anchorage, KTUU. They rushed to beat ADN and so put in on the AP news wire without the incumbent's political affiliations, nothing more.
It's funny, it is usually the republicans who claim that liberals get a break from the big 3 news networks, not the other way around.
Well, well, well, the chickens have come home to roost. It looks like old Ted was as crooked as a dogs hind leg. We all knew this, but he was our crook. Republican Crooks of Alaska. We should start a hall of shame for them here in the our Dirty Little River Town. The tourist could donate to his defense fund. Watch out Coconut Don... Your Next I hope.
Here it is Begich,
Ted was good some of the time,
Not a nice way to finish a career.
Good luck.
It's supposed to be live on c-span 2 next: http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN2_rm.a...
Does anyone think that tis senile drooling old crook will EVER see the inside of a jail cell? Heck, in a short while he will not even need to worry about the shame of it as he will be lucky to be able to recall what he had for lunch.
Did Ted Stevens invent the ear-mark or something? Not. Ear marks are used by all of them to bring money home to their states. Examples:
A tattoo removal program in San Luis Obispo County, California ($50,000);
The Fort Union Trading Post Bike Trail in North Dakota ($500,000);
The Center on Obesity at West Virginia University ($2 million);
An effort to combat "goth culture" in Blue Springs, Missouri ($270,000);
Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Apple Valley, California ($150,000);
The recovery of Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse ($500,000);
Washington State's dolphin replacement (replace them with what?) project ($4 million);
$200,000 for the restoration of the Iao Theater in Wailuku Town, Hawaii;
$100,000 for the Alabama Quail Trail;
$750,000 for wildlife rehabilitation in Quechee, Vermont;
$250,000 for infrastructure upgrades to the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in New York.
Surely just these few examples of recent ear marks could be connected to impropriety. There's plenty of suspicion and blame to go around. Why do they single out Alaska?
Our Lt. Gov Sean Parnell is running for Congress of the Republican Party against Don Young. Dave Cuddy is running for the Senate and also a Republican.
allhaileris, i'm sure there's corruption in just about every state, but that's sort of irrelevant to this. I doubt the defense of, "well everyone is doing it" is going to stand up well in court.
I'll remind everyone that Senator Stevens has not been convicted of anything, merely indicted, which only means a chosen group of people feel enough evidence exists to have a trial.
He has served this state longer than my 37 years living, and brought much to our table. He is still deserving of our respect. You toothless, inbred, forest-dwelling wood-burners need to get a clue. What did you ever do for this state?
Don't forget that he also orchestrated the great "Alaska Land Giveaway" too. He will not be missed by many of us long time residents.
Good thing Alaska has a oil rich bank account to support itself. Wonder what kind of financial hit Fairbanks will have when all his earmarks for this town comes to an end. How many federally financed jobs and programs will finally come to end. The warning signs have been out there about what will happen when Uncle Ted's money ends. You think high energy cost have created a crisis, you haven't seen anything yet. Still it is good he has finally been caught.
valkyrie
you certainly have a point, but the question remains, who started this, and why? It's said to have started over ear marks. The rest of this just came out of that investigative process. They're picking on us. I don't like being picked on. If they don't approve of the quid-pro-quo nature of ear marks, let them address that in some other manner. I won't sit quietly by why they try to make an example out of my senator.
RESIGN Ted!! SARAH can appoint Parnell!!
Senator, Please resign now! Please allow the governor to get someone in office with time to prepare for the election! Don't focus on the irony that the laws you passed are going to put you in prison. Don't focus on the fact that public opinion is going to turn against you quickly and decisively. Instead, think about how you can go from here to help the state.
I am sorry you didn't resign before this so we could have held proper celebrations about your contributions. You deserved that.
I am also sorry that you are going to go through hell with this. It is a very difficult and lengthy process. My prayers are with you and your family.
That said, I urge you to think of Alaska. Please don't go through this as a sitting senator. Please don't cause a party change in your position by attempting to get reelected.
Just another weak, soft, greedy politician doing what they do best.
Why do we need these OLD, grouchy, narrow minded, THIEVES & CON ARTISTS running our country? Whatever happened to "our government"?
Hmmmmm, this toothless, inbred, forest-dwelling wood burner wonders about allhaileris. Who's buttering your toast. I would like to know what you have ever done for this state. Please, give us a clue
Hea, without corruption we would have no government! That's one of the reasons you need to be a lawer to get into politics, so you know how to get around the law! I still will vote for Ted, even if he is in jail. From what I have read about Begich indicates that this guy will be in jail before Ted! Who do you vote for these day's, there all crooks, or they would not be in politics. At least I know what Ted is about, and he has done many good things for Alaska, which I'm sure many will now forget since this article hit the streets. Any politician who has not had there hand in the cookie jar please step forward!!!
Anchorage Daily News has the court papers on line. All about gifts from VECO and Ted's vacation home.
Those Viking gas grills really are nice!
Doesn't matter what the outcome of the investigation is, he just lost the election.
I just hope we get someone in place who can bring as much into the state from the feds as he did.
This is very unfortunate and we do not have any good applicants to take his place. Parell is a spineless coward who could not stand up to a willow blowing in the wind and we have Begich who is just as corrupt in the Anchorage area. Such a shame because Stevens is a very powerful political figure in Washington.
If it is merely trivial for our politicians to be thieves and liars then we have truly become a sad and weak country, letting these saggy old greedheads run the country we ALL live in. All this economic "crisis" and the only people suffering are the ones lining the pockets of the people responsible for the recession in the first place, good job America.
allhaileris.
Your posts help us understand your frame of mind.
>I am sorry you didn't resign before this so we could have held proper celebrations about your contributions. You deserved that.
Agreed. But his recent displays of total lack of awareness or understanding on certain issues have been quite bothersome. Especially consider the power he holds. He will be missed, but like Murki, not for too long.
I can only echo the comments by este. Stevens needs to resign now, and not fight this as a sitting senator. That can only harm Alaska, and judging by the bloodthirsty comments posted here, insure the election of Begich. Palin needs to be able to appoint a senator to serve Alaska, and possibly retain the seat for Republicans.
Please, Senator Stevens, resign now.
Robert W Gilcrease
My point is merely that Senator Stevens has done his job. He has spent his adult life in service to Alaska, brought a feast to our table, and is deserving of respect. He deserves better than being personally attacked by mob of anonymous losers on a newspaper blog. Please excuse me for believing in my country, my state, and my government. There are just too many people out there, who've never done anything for anyone, ready to stone a man to death just to watch him die. Well I'll speak up for him. He probably is guilty. It doesn't matter. He still deserves respect.
allhaileris,
I agree that we should treat Senator Stevens with respect for all the good he has done for Alaska and I, for one, am saddened by this indictment. Nonetheless, responding to disrespect by being disrespectful ("all you toothless, inbred, forest-dwelling wood-burners need to get a clue.") puts you in the same club with those people. Ted Stevens has worked hard for Alaska and he's done good things for Alaska. He also seems to have become embroiled, like many others, into believing that he deserves fancy gifts from special interests, despite the law. The public treats these public servants like they're Gods or something. We believe they are entitled to many perks and so do they. For example, we expect them to be able to zoom around in fancy jets wasting public money because they're so special. George Bush spends hundreds of millions of dollars flying around in Air Force One for the sole purpose of campaigning for fellow Republicans while not conducting one bit of work for the public. We even allow them to vote in their own pay raises. We, the public, are part of this culture of corruption.
You bunch of ingrates. Teddy Boy has brought home the bacon to Alaska his entire life; nobody in the future will ever match him either. I'd support him till the end even if he was a dem for all the good he has done. You all think Mark Begich is any cleaner? You better open your eyes. I've watched Anch politics for years too.
allhaileris with all due respect I fail to see how in a democracy someone can be worthy of respect when they benefited from practically a new house, a new car, and various other "household goods" at our expense (it's a governement by the people for the people). Sure he's done many good things in the past but that's no excuse for his conduct now. Years from now no one is going to remember those good things, he's going to be remembered as the senator who (potentially) was indicted on seven felony counts.
You say you beleive in this country, but a cornerstone of this country is that everyone is held accountable for their actions. If he's found guilty he will pay the consequences just like anyone else would.
This effort has involved a long road of travel. As a matter of karmas and integrity, I will not permit myself to celebrate Ted's indictment. Not yet. There's still more to be done in re. to criminal investigations of the Oligarchs. The chicken coop isn't free of disease yet.
To gloat over the grave of an opponent, even the proverbial grave, though tempting, lacks class, and can bode poorly for the person(s) gloating.
I am glad that justice appears to be working its course. I look forward to a government one day that truly represents the People again, instead of hacks who pander to various corporate interests.
Baby Ben should be nervous this morning, unless this was a part of what ever deal Benny may have worked to thus far escape the same treatment.
Ted's demise, likely true, and at his own hand, leaves me thinking of Bobby Dylan today, singing out, "I threw it all away...." How many have it all, don't know it, and reach for more than they're entitled to, ultimately throwing it all away?
SpiritofAlaska,
thanks, I got 'em confused, ...
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Senator Stevens is a great leader who has served his home State of Alaska and his Country with honor. The DNC and Mr. Begich (with his limited formal education, lacks National & International experience) are working to win a US senate seat via smokescreens and red herrings. Senator Stevens has continuously taken on our Nation's enemies as a WWII military hero until today’s fight (Securing National Security) against the Islamic extremist. He has fought for Alaskans for decades and deserves from us (Alaskans) the benefit of doubt until a jury presented with the evident make their final decision. Those of you who have done little for your Nation or even your State of Alaska ought to be ashamed of your ridicule of a great American and a great Alaskan. The pimps within our society love a public hanging!
Just maybe, it is time for Alaska is set an example and develop the strongest ethic reform in history and legislation in any State to clean up government and ensure our government is squeaky clean. The Legislative body so far has only paid lip service to ethic reforms. How many more are going to be indicted before this is all over. What a way to celebrate 50 years of Statehood.
He's had a looooong career hard to think that he's been making huge amounts of money back in the past when barrels of oil was 10-12 dollars a barrel. The ones that should be put in prison is the companies that even tried it. But it's great to get who you can now way after the fact but the fire won't ever be put out this way it'll lead suspicion to everyone. Can't see it stopping. What's a good saying?....Who got one!
The fire will never go out when you'll got oil fueling the fire.
The trail will come and how many more will fall as a result. I am sure the grand jury did not take these charges lightly before issuing an indictment for failure to disclose. Do not forget there still is a grand jury going on in Alaska. The one that brought charges against Stevens was in Washington, DC. This is going to drag on for a long time.
Just wondering -- anyone want to change the name of the Anchorage airport? I didn't think so. As some of the posts have noted, Stevens has brought Alaska more than its due. Funny how so many of you all are turning on him now. What, you didn't know all these years, those Federal dollars he was bringing in were crucial in helping your state to thrive? It never occured to you that some of it might be tainted? Don't go turning on the man now when he is most in need. He's all yours folks.
At least the News-miner has real news to report. Maybe they can stop their witch hunt with Governor Palin now. My money was on Don Young to get indicted first. Eh. You win some, you lose some. Wish we hadn't named an airport after Senator Stevens until after he had left office.
Pinhead_from_the_East, whats embarassing is most of that was brought by a crook and conartist. What the hell are you saying by not changing the name of the airport? Its now tainted by Ted Stevens and you say we dont think we should change it? Come on, I prefer Palin International Airport more than Ted Stevens International Airport. Dont make us feel guilty because corrupt Ted Stevens and Big Oil bought us all this nice stuff. We should feel guilty that we have all this stuff and Ted Stevens is to blame for it's taintedness.
woodman, The ethics reform bill(s) that were crafted in Juneau over the last couple of years, with substantial input by/from the Dems, in part as a result of the continuing investigations, left gaping holes in assessing what really needed done.
Both parties look to benefit themselves; the voters aren't a real concern for many of the oligarchs, other than for wanting to shmooze the commoners with one-liners, toward believing that the politicos are actually interested in their well-being. As often as not, or perhaps -more often- than not, it seems that it's all about the self and the party's control when looking closely at the actions of the ruling class..
In that regard, yes, we need SERIOUS ethics reform of ALL of the branches of government. It hasn't been 'by, for and of the People,' for a long time, as far as I can tell..
----------------------------------
Re. the supposed 'liberal media bias' insinuated further above; I guess that's why there's a virtual black-out in the press here regarding the House Judiciary hearings last Friday, 07-25-08, concerning the impeachment of GW?
The corporatists, including the mega-media monopolies, (much like the politicos and their parties), worry mostly/only about their own back-sides and their own wallets. Little more.
It's a 'mercenary country' now. So much for staunchly holding lofty ideals or principles. So much for liberty.
Looks like Don Young is going to stick by Ted to the end. Maybe they can share a cell in federal prison.
I've felt kinda' favorable toward naming the Los Anchorage Airport 'Disco International' for some time now. Strobing interior lights, and a revolving mirrored ball in the center of the ceilings of all areas would be a nice addition, too. ;^>)
Meanwhile, folks are looking into Begich's relationship with some of Ted's and Mark's mutual business partners, and the past receipt of commissions, no, that was gifts, or was it commissions...
Yes, this could stack up to be one interesting November..
not Begich....who else is there to vote for?
allhaileris,
You should change your username. Eris would be so disappointed in you. You're giving Discordians a bad rap.
mcd041957,
everybody loves a public hanging
So will we get to rename the Anchorage airport?
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Gomer says...surprise,surprise,surprise.
Did he have Bosch dishwasher and a Sub Zero fridge too, maybe a new outdoor coal boiler?
well he certainly cannot walk over 'bridge over troubled water' - might as well give it up. Im still grasping this Senile thing. But I know one thing - there is alot of politician that have high class living standards. Thats their weakness. Somebody wants something and they have money and thats what happens. So much for diplomacy - they lose that when they get senile i guess. what an old sock. Lets change that. God's blessings. Peace out.
ted did do some good for Alaska. Nothing will happen to him. Just like Murkoski (whats his name)or any other politican. Look at Billy bob Clinton---women loved him after his big blow up job.
It is to bad that we have someone running that is using his fathers death to gain his office. Sad, sad, sad!
Nothing will happen to Ted. He won't have to pay taxes on his property like whats his name is trying to do. Or the bible thumper and wife who took advantage of all Alaskans. Not much happen to them either.
Sad that he allowed this to happen, sad too that his career will end on this note. Didn't always agree with Ted but he did work his butt off for this State and that should not be forgotten.
In the 50+ years he's been working. Who can state for a fact that all the rules that he being convicted of was law for the years he's been in service? It's now turning into a "Witch Hunt". Wonder how big it'll get before it goes to the Gov. door steps? Wonder if she ever received anything for making only one builder get the her blessings? Great timing to get ride of the public safety commissioner. Good way to hide your scent if you have the one of the dogs killed?
Talk about shooting ourselves in the foot! 250k over an eight year period! Come on get a grip. The guy deserved it for all the hard work he has done for our state. So he got a few kick backs, so what? Anyone else in that position would have done the same. Most jobs have perks, if you want those perks run for office. My job has its own perks, and no one puts me in the paper.
We should stop to think about what we are doing. If we loose our position in the senate over something like this then we are only inflicting our own doom.
Come on people I didnt know we had so many liberals in this town. SCARY! The reason I dont live int the lower 48 is to get away from all the cry babies and greenies.
Yes, the timing on this is VERY interesting. There is no doubt that it was intended to facilitate the replacement of our powerful senator with someone else.
Ted’s explanation was that he and Bill Allen were old friends, and Bill offered to oversee this remodeling project in Ted’s absence. He was sent bills throughout the project, and he paid them. I choose to believe that he felt he was being billed for all legitimate costs. Bill Allen, for whatever reason, did not pass all of the costs along to Ted. When Bill was caught in his widespread corruption, he turned against everyone. He blamed everyone else – even his old friend Ted, apparently – in order to make himself look good.
The fact that our 84-year-old senator did not have a heart attack while he waited for the feds to ransack his home speaks volumes to his innocence. Guilt is extremely stressful, as is fear. It appears he had neither. That looks to me like he believed in his own innocence.
As far as our state having a “pork barrel” image, this is not the fault of earmarks for the bridge project. It is the fault of the media who are more interested in a sensationalized story than they are in reporting the truth.
LostAlaskan asked: “Whatever happened to "our government"?”
I doubt there is another state among the 50 that can say they have had more and better representation from their senators and representatives than Alaska has. Our congressmen have continually fought for and provided for the needs of our growing state, and their explanations have always done a good job of validating Alaska’s need for funding for infrastructure.
Today is a sad day in Alaska’s history. The winds of change are chilling north winds.
RealAlaskan,
Your posts help us understand your frame of mind.
You must be confused,
Glad that you understand. Is that sarcasm I sense?
Well put Alaskanflower
The stress of this combined with his age is most likely to cause his health to fail quite rapidly now. Usually happens to the geezers that finally get caught. Ted, you had your time, and you thought you could do pretty much anything you wanted. But you couldn't do it all it seems, could you? You just couldn't figure out when to stop. Now you have run out of road.
Gotta love Realalaskan's rationalization. So what if he only allegdly lied to the FBI seven times... Big deal! So, if potentially having seven felonies on your record is OK where exactly do you draw the line? Leave it to Alaska do be the first state to elect a convicted felon to senate. I kind of hope that happens just because of the comedy that will ensue.
And yeah, damn those liberal bastards...always trying to protect the enviornment! We need to get some conservatives in here, that'll show mother nature who's boss! I mean what has nature ever done for us? Nothing but cause all those hurricanes, earthquakes (today!) and droughts! Grrr... not I'm all worked up.
Could somebody please give me the name of just one past or present AK politician that was not corrupt? Even if they were good before they were elected, it didn't take any time at all to ruin them.
Wow Valkyrie,
Already calling him guilty and a felon (7!!!) without due process! YOu must be from California. Dont believe everything you read in the news. Obama appreciates your support!
Wow Valkyrie,
Nice Greeny statement. Where is global warming this year (Alaska weather) pretty chilly summer if you ask me? And now your linking earthquakes to Global warming. Al gore also sends his regards.
I would like to believe that Bill Allen was setting up Stevens for extortion at some future time when VECO needed the wheels of government greased. That's why actual bribery is not in the indictment and he's just being charged with failure to report.
Bill Allen knew that Stevens would usually would go along with whatever the oil industry wanted, but considered his "investment" in Stevens a sure way to get concessions when the chips were down. This is how they play hardball in the ivory towers.
Stevens should have smelled a rat but didn't.
Just my HO.
Now why didn't Jay Ramras follow the corrupt politician fad to help out his business? It seems I've seen alot of our elected officials have been in the news alot lately including Palin.
Must be close to election time.
I tried to warn Ted,the Feds were comeing! I guess the Tubes on the internets were full.
I've always known Sen Stevens to be an honorable person
and a veteran. He has served his Country and his State well.
A man of his age, can't remember everything;
with different chairmanship's and going ons back home in
Alaska.
He probably had no idea who was doing the remodeling,
just send him the bill. He was more than likely setup by the other
party's, to take the heat off of them. That is how they operate.
Better to investigate a Senator, than waste your time on small fries.
If anything, the people around him are to blame for this,
not the Senator. The Senator is gold and has done much for our
State. His golden years shouldn't be tarnished by age and
forgetfulness.
It anything this is a political smear, to replace him with
a Democrat. They are resorting to dirty tactics. To attack
him is wrong and the democrats are using the DOJ to attack
our Senator and we should be outraged, by their dirty tactics.
LMAO! Series of Tubes!
If the damn earthquake did not happen today, the entire nation would be jumping on teddy.
you must be confused: must have had to take a nap.
Or stoke his wood boiler.
At the murder of Julius Caesar..."Et tu, Brutus?"
I find no honor in this moment...only shame for us all...no matter what political party affiliation, conservative or liberal view point, or region of Alaska...do we not each, have a stone in our hand to throw at the accused?
hstkmtn, Proving bribery would take a lot more leg-work than proving a case of obstruction/perjury or hidden 'gifts.'
But frankly, I doubt that there's many times in Ted's legislative background where he voted contrary to the major producers OR VECO's wishes/intentions.
I think that the bottom line is that quite often, high-profile positions involving prestige, power, and esteem, as well as offering implicit control over others, tend to attract persons who may not be suited to handling that type of authority or position, especially in terms of ethics and sincere respect for others..
I suspect that Ted (who I often lacked any admiration for, as a result of what I believe was a heavily partisan and anti-liberty voting record), watched for years as others with less tenure than himself, raked in 'back-door proceeds' that, in great part, resulted from their occupying positions of influence. I think that there was a time that Ted possessed much integrity, even if I disagreed with a lot of what he did.
Power corrupts but greed kills.
For the good of his state, his party, and his own defense, hopefully Uncle Ted will finally step down. Then maybe, we'll be able to find some other a-constitutional, pork-pushing politician(democrat or republican) to keep us at the federal feed troff as long as he has.......
Do the crime,
Do the time.
Hey, I know, let's use the Spartacus card!
Burke -
Do you really want a Senator representing you who can't even keep his own affairs straight? You're right; age is hindering him. The time for him to bow out gracefully is passed.
I agree that he was a great senator, and probably did more for our state than any other single person. But that is no reason to not hold him accountable for his actions. And that goes for the rest of our politicians. We know that many of our them on all levels of the government are corrupt, or just plain embarrassments to us. We need to send a clear message to our politicians that they WILL be accountable for their actions, regardless of how long they've been in office.
Doesn't make much difference as you can't tell a Republican from a Democrat anymore. All you have to do is look at the campaign contributions, see how our politicians voted and see who they went to work for when they got out of office. Politicians have been selling us out to big business and special interests for years. Unless a change is made in the electoral process and the power that lobbyists have, the same corruption is going to continue. Sen. Stevens might be the one to be indicted today but there are many others out there who just haven't been caught.
Hmm...guess your sarcasm sensor broke after using it on YMBC. Also, please explain your California comment. I'd hate to think you were using stereotypes as the rationale for your comment and personal attacks.
You'll also notice I never said he was already guilty. To quote myself I said, "allegedly lied" and "potentially having seven felonies", and I referred to him being elected in the future as a possiblity.
And finally that's the reason why most scientists refer to it as "climate change" instead of global warming.
Senator Stevens is innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. Right? But, people tired of politics as usual are going to jump to conclusions before the trial. I jump to concusions all the time because that is how I get my exercise. A lot of things could happen. Senator Stevens could resign and Governor Palin make an appointment before the primary. Who knows who that will be? Some have already guessed, but I can't wait to see the next developments. Many are going to miss the clout of Senator Stevens to deliver for Alaska, IF he does resign OR if he loses his case in court.
A few responses:
Valkyrie: Quick fact check: you write: "He's been in the senate longer than Alaska has been a state." Constitutionally impossible. You can't be in the senate without a state to represent. Alaskan statehood: 1959. Ted Stevens Senatehood: 1968.
He's only missed nine of the last forty-nine years, however.
allhaileris: I know you're young, but the fact is, our state is getting picked on because we have some of the most corrupt
politicians in America right now. We make Louisiana look honest. This investigation started in the legislature and worked its way up. If you love this state and this country as much as you claim, devote your youthful energy to cleaning it up.
Burke: Accusing the Department of Justice of being controlled by Democrats who are out to get our senator? You've been drinking the kool-aid, pal. The Bush Administration presently runs the DOJ. Our elected Republicans haven't even been able to pass the Bushies' unbelievably forgiving smell test. That tells you something. Turn off Hannity. He's washed your brain.
AKNATUFF: You got through an entire post without hitting the caps lock. First time for everything. Now you just need to install a spell check program.
RealAlaskan: I suspect you're actually a Democrat masquerading as a conservative in order to make Republicans look as corrupt and dishonest as we normal folks always figured they were. You're succeeding beyond your wildest dreams.
newsminerbrainminers: I know you haven't posted yet, but please do so soon so the News-Miner staff can remove it, leaving the rest of us to try and decipher what you said from the understandably indignant responses posted immediately afterward.
Mackie: Best post of the day. Wish I'd thought of it.
Your public servant,
Dr. C.