Don Young (R-Alaska) Under Federal Criminal Investigation

The Wall Street Journal reports that 18-term Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is under criminal investigation for his dealings with Alaska oil services company Veco Corp.

While the investigation into Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) ties to Veco, including the remodeling of his Girdwood home, has been widely reported, this is the first time Young has been implicated in the scandal.

It looks like an annual pig-roast fundraiser snared the congressman known for huge pork projects, including the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere."

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003771.php

from the WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118531999682776863.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news&apl=y

WASHINGTON -- A senior House Republican has come under criminal investigation in the Justice Department's widening inquiry into alleged influence-peddling and self-dealing in Congress.

Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the former chairman of the House Transportation Committee, now is the subject of a continuing criminal inquiry involving possible political favors for a company in Alaska, people close to the case said. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the powerful former chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the longest-serving Senate Republican, is also under criminal investigation.

Federal investigators are examining whether Rep. Young or Sen. Stevens accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported ...

that everyone knows it.

As the republicons prove over and over and over and over.

...what's the latest buzz in Alaska on this? Is it just old news finally get some attention here, or is this blowing up there?

...considering that VECO has been one of Young's most generous corporate contributors, but I believe this is the first official thing I've heard. We had heard he was under investigation for "something" last year and were hoping that he would be indicted in time for the November election, which would have given our candidate a big boost, but unfortunately it didn't come soon enough.

...is there a possibility that Alaskans could actually have a DEMOCRAT as their rep in Congress?

On a related note, have you checked out TPMMuckraker.com tonight? It's a virtual summer festival of Alaska Republican corruption, starring Don Young, Ted Stevens, and Lisa Murkowski.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003771.php
Don Young Under Federal Criminal Investigation

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003769.php
Murkowski Amended Financial Disclosure, A Little

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003766.php
Ted Stevens Foundation Late To Register, Pay Fees

As for next year's elections, I think there's a good chance of a turnaround here. Diane Benson has already announced that she will take on Don again, and I've heard that the DCCC is also courting our Democratic mayor Mark Begich to run, as well. While Diane is my favorite, there would be some justice in Mark getting the seat as it was his father's before his untimely death in a plane crash in 1972. Even though Nick Begich had been missing and presumed dead for a month, he still won that election. Later a special election was held, which Young won, and he's been down there ever since.

There is some speculation that former House minority leader Ethan Berkowitz will take on Ted, and I think he would have a good chance of winning. He's well qualified, extremely ethical and very smart. http://www.aklegislature.com/guide/2006/profiles/listings/leg_berkowitz.shtml

shodenfreuda? I dunno, but I'm feelin' it!

Literally, 'damage-joy.'

Schadenfreude is a dark, super-dense, ultra-rich pie. A small sliver is satisfying, but a big honkin' piece is the stone of doom - dragging the overindulgent into a pit of karmic retribution. I'm helping myself to a medium-sized slice of schadenfreude pie in this instance, however. Young and Stevens have a karmic debt much greater than my glee over their misfortune.

secret energy meetings? :puke:

from Alaska also. I think that means that every single one of the senators and representatives from Alaska are under investigation for fraud and corruption.

:rofl: Lisa's deal involves a recent purchase of land on the Kenai River from an old family friend/developer/mover-shaker for about $150,000 below market value, which looks bad enough, but to top it off now they reported on the news tonight that a "memorandum of understanding" was signed that if she sells the land within the next few years, she has to split the profit with this seller. Does this sound like preferential treatment?

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6835224

Pin another one on this crook. This makes about four Don Young scandals that I can think of without even trying. Take him out. He's one of the worst.

After all, who the fuck will stop them?

:shrug:

Mark Zachares was Young's chief of staff, I believe.

ed. Oh, and also the deplorable situation in the Marianas. Young is responsible for killing Frank Murkowski's (!) bill to protect the workers down there. When does a representative kill a bill proposed by the senator from his own state when they're both in the same party? That one has always smelled to me.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/050107/opi_20070501023.shtml