Alaska governor: Sen. Stevens’s son should quit RNC = bribery & corruption

Alaska governor: Sen. Stevens’s son should quit RNC
By Elana Schor - Sept. 20, 2007
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/alaska-governor-sen.-stevenss-son-should-quit-rnc-2007-09-20.html

As federal investigators zero in on ties between Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and a prominent oil-services company, Alaska’s Republican governor said Wednesday that Stevens’s son — who is also under scrutiny — should step aside from the Republican National Committee (RNC).

GOP Gov. Sarah Palin told The Associated Press that Ben Stevens, a former Alaska state senator who has benefited from Sen. Stevens’s congressional earmarks, should not represent the state while the federal probe into Alaska corruption continues.

In separate court statements, the former chief of oil-services company VECO recently acknowledged offering bribes to Ben Stevens and assigning company workers to help remodel Sen. Stevens’s home in 2000. Ted Stevens’s Senate office has declined to comment on the investigation to avoid any appearance of trying to influence its outcome.

resigning?

They're poster children for everything the RNC has come to represent.

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7101828

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- House Speaker John Harris has called on former Senate President Ben Stevens to resign his position as state liaison to the Republican National Committee.

In a press release distributed this afternoon, Harris said Stevens is no longer able to effectively represent Alaska Republicans on the national level.

Last week, former VECO Corp. executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith both testified to bribing Stevens in exchange for his support on key bills working through the Legislature.

Allen also testified that Stevens did "little work" for more than $250,000 in lobbying fees he received from VECO.

Amazing things have been coming out in the Pete Kott trial. The word is that Anderson, Kott, Weyhrauch, and Kohring are just the tip of the iceberg, that the feds are simply taking their time rolling out the rest of the indictments. The logic is that by putting away a few of these guys (Anderson has already been tried and found guilty), recipients of any future indictments will be more likely to plead out.

It's like a breath of fresh air. :)

Contractor paid workers for Stevens fundraisers, house work

Associated Press - September 19, 2007 4:54 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - A construction worker who oversaw renovation of Senator Ted Stevens' home says his company also paid him to help run fundraisers for the Alaska Republican.

The practice appears to violate federal campaign finance laws.

Contractor Robert Williams is a key witness in a bribery investigation that stretches from Alaska to Capitol Hill and threatens legal and political headaches for the Senate's longest-serving Republican.

The FBI is investigating whether Stevens received illegal gifts from VECO Corporation, the once powerful Alaska oil contractor.

Williams says he was in charge of "special projects" for VECO founder Bill Allen, and the renovation of Stevens' home was one such project.

Others included working three or four fundraisers for Stevens while on the clock with VECO.

Williams says he also helped run annual fundraising pig roasts for Representative Don Young, another Alaska Republican who has come under scrutiny in the VECO investigation.

The fundraisers were among many Williams said he worked on during his more than 13 years at VECO.

Federal elections laws prohibit candidates from accepting donations or free services from corporations.

Stevens spokesman Aaron Saunders had no comment.

The senator has said he wants to avoid any suggestion he was trying to influence the investigation by discussing it publicly.

A spokesman for Young's office referred questions to his campaign spokesman, who did not immediately return a call.