Foreman: Stevens remodel figure is way off
By Tony Hopfinger
Special to The Seattle Times
An oilfield-services company provided more than $150,000 worth of labor renovating the home of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, according to a project foreman who is cooperating in a federal investigation of Alaska's senior member of Congress.
Employees of VECO Corp., the oil contractor, provided months of work during the 2000 remodeling, which roughly doubled the size of the senator's home in Girdwood, Alaska, said David Anderson, who supervised the job.
Anderson, who said he testified before a federal grand jury about the remodeling, is a former employee and nephew of VECO founder Bill Allen.
Anderson's labor estimate is of interest to federal investigators as they examine the relationship between Allen and Stevens, who for years has ranked as one of the most powerful members of the U.S. Senate.
The remodeling involved VECO labor, materials, subcontractors and other expenses. For federal investigators, key questions are the total cost of the project, and whether VECO picked up part of the tab as Allen sought to gain favor with Stevens.
At the time of the work, Stevens was at the peak of his political power, chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee in a Republican-controlled Senate and directing billions of dollars of federal spending. He also has helped shape energy, fisheries, telecommunications and other federal policies of major importance to the Pacific Northwest.
Unusual search
In late July, FBI agents took the extraordinary action of removing the lock to search Stevens' Alaska home, and spent much of the day taking measurements and gathering other evidence. The raid thrust the Justice Department investigation into the public spotlight and has ramped up pressure on Stevens.
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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004092314_stevensalaska26m.html
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