Scandal: Alaska!

Updated Sept. 22

For several years, the Justice Department has conducted a wide-ranging public corruption investigation involving an Alaskan oil company, VECO Corp. So far, six lawmakers (five from the Alaska state legislature and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)) have been charged.

VECO Corp.'s former CEO Bill Allen and Vice President Rick Smith have both pleaded guilty to charges of bribery and conspiracy and have been cooperating with the investigation.

In August 2006, the FBI and the IRS raided the offices of six Alaska legislators -- members of the self-proclaimed "Corrupt Bastards Club" -- as part of an investigation into whether VECO Corp. had bribed Alaska state legislators for contracts and favors.

Five state legislators have since been charged in the probe. Ex-Rep. Pete Kott, ex-Rep. Vic Kohring, and ex-Rep. Tom Anderson were convicted and are currently serving sentences; Ex-Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch is awaiting trial. Sen. John Cowdery, still serving in the state Senate, was indicted on two counts of bribery and conspiracy on July 10.

The VECO probe ultimately expanded to include both Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young (R-AK). Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 29 for lying on his disclosure forms about gifts and services he received from VECO and its CEO. The probe focused mainly on Stevens' home-remodeling project, which was allegedly completed with the free labor of VECO employees. Stevens' trial began on September 22. Young is reportedly under investigation, but has not been charged or implicated in other criminal filings.

Stevens' son, former Alaska State Senate President Ben Stevens, has not been charged with any crimes, but his office was searched by the FBI twice in 2006. In addition, a federal judge identified Ben Stevens as the "State Senator A" implicated as a co-conspirator in the charges against Kott and Weyhrauch.

Essential Reading:

• The Anchorage Daily News is the place to go for the latest updates and most thorough coverage of the Alaska scandal. (Here's their helpful overview and timeline.)
• TPMmuckraker also tracks the scandal, particularly the developments in Washington, and consolidates news on the scandal from other sources.
• For info solely on Sen. Stevens' involvement in the scandal, check out TPMmuckraker's timeline, this New York Times article, and the Washington Post's brief overview.
• This 2003 Los Angeles Times article first kicked off the investigation and the Wall Street Journal broke the news last July that Rep. Don Young was under investigation.
• Check out our coverage too.

Primary Sources:

• The indictment (PDF) of Sen. Stevens.
• Prosecutors' motions adding details to their case.