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.

 

Did Feds Cover Up Sex Allegations Against Cooperating Witness? Alaska Dispatch, 10/29

Citing Error, DoJ Seeks Release of Convicted Alaska Lawmakers Anchorage Daily News, 6/5

Alaska Corruption Probe Appears at Standstill Anchorage Daily News, 5/26

After Lapses, DOJ Orders Retraining For Its Prosecutors McClatchy, 4/15

Stevens Turned Down Plea Deal Washington Post, 4/14

Dismissal for Stevens, but Question on ‘Innocent’ New York Times, 4/13

Shake-Up At DoJ’s Public Integrity Unit? National Journal, 4/13

Stevens Case Leads to New Scrutiny of Other Alaska Inquiries New York Times, 4/9

Alaska Asks Feds to Let Stevens Sue Anchorage Daily News, 4/9

DOJ Mistakes May Hinder Other Cases Politico, 4/8

Lawyers Lay Out Reasons for Collapse of Stevens Conviction New York Times, 4/7

Judge Closes Stevens Case, Opens Criminal Probe of Prosecutors AP, 4/7

Judge Orders DoJ to Hand over Stevens Documents Washington Post, 4/6

Stevens’ Case May Affect Others in Alaska Corruption Probe Anchorage Daily News, 4/2

Stevens’ Remarkable Case Comes to a Remarkable End ProPublica, 4/1

Judge Tosses Long-Standing Motion to Dismiss Stevens Case Roll Call ($), 3/10

DOJ Removes Stevens’ Prosecutors Politico, 2/17

Stevens Prosecutors Found In Contempt AP, 2/13

Agent Claims Evidence on Stevens Was Concealed New York Times, 2/11

Stevens Prosecutors Admit Another Error Anchorage Daily News, 2/6

Judge to DoJ: Hand Over Docs on Stevens Whistleblower Roll Call ($), 1/22

Prosecutors Rebuke Stevens’ Demands Anchorage Daily News, 1/20

Judge Goes After Stevens Prosecutors Roll Call ($), 1/15

Details of FBI Agent’s Complaint Revealed in Stevens Case Anchorage Daily News, 1/15

Stevens Judge to Prosecutors: Reveal FBI Agent Roll Call ($), 1/14

This Year in Scandals: Congressmen Behaving Badly ProPublica, 12/24

Stevens Asks For Conviction To Be Dismissed AP, 12/23

Whistleblower: U.S. Purposely Withheld Evidence in Stevens Trial Washington Post, 12/22

With Stevens’s Fall, Pipeline for Lobbyists Shuts Off The New York Times, 12/22

Prosecutors: Ex-State Sen Got Stevens Witness to Lie AP, 12/17

Stevens Formally Seeks New Trial Politico, 12/5

Hearing Set on Allegations by Witness in Stevens Trial Washington Post, 11/26

Stevens Trial Witness: False Evidence From DoJ Politico, 11/21

No More ‘Missing Voters’ in Alaska ProPublica, 11/19

Alaska Businessman Gets 6 Months in Corruption Case Anchorage Daily News, 11/13

Stevens Might Lose Election After All ProPublica, 11/13

Alaska’s Voter Turnout Is Puzzling Anchorage Daily News, 11/10

Sen. Reid: Stevens ‘Not Going to Survive’ in the Senate Politico, 11/10

This Week in Scandals ProPublica, 11/7

Alaska Turnout, Results Raise Questions Washington Post, 11/7

DeMint Urges GOP to Expel Stevens Politico, 11/6

GOP Senate Leader Hedges on Expulsion for Stevens ProPublica, 11/5

Legal Questions Surround Stevens’ Future in Senate ProPublica, 11/5

What Happens if Felon-Senator Stevens Wins? ProPublica, 11/5

Stevens Juror Lied About Father’s Death Roll Call, 11/3

Senate Maj. Leader: Stevens Cannot Stay in Senate McClatchy, 11/3

Stevens May Lose Law License Anchorage Daily News, 11/3

New Names Emerge in VECO CEO’s FBI Talks Anchorage Daily News, 10/31

Ted Stevens Receives Hero’s Welcome in Alaska New York Times, 10/31

Stevens Case Prompts New Senate Ethics Push Roll Call, 10/30

Stevens Wants Probe of Federal Prosecutors Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 10/29

Sen. Stevens Can Keep His Congressional Pension Harper's, 10/28

Corruption Conviction Doesn’t Daunt Sen. Stevens Los Angeles Times, 10/28

Does Stevens’ Conviction Disqualify Him from the Senate? ProPublica, 10/27

Sen. Stevens Found Guilty on All 7 Counts AP, 10/27

Jury Catches Error in Stevens Indictment Politico, 10/27

Stevens Prosecuted Under Law He Helped Write Roll Call ($), 10/24

Judge Suspends Jury Deliberations in Stevens Trial Washington Post, 10/24

Stress, Outbursts, Illness Grips Stevens Jury AP, 10/24

Judge Set a Torrid Pace for Sen. Stevens Trial Roll Call ($), 10/23

Jury in Stevens Trial Asks Judge to Remove ‘Violent’ Juror Wall Street Journal ($), 10/23

Citing Stress, Stevens Jury Asks for a Break Washington Post, 10/23

Closing Arguments in Stevens Trial New York Times, 10/22

Prosecutors: Sen. Stevens’ Testimony on Gifts ‘Nonsense’ AP, 10/21

Sen. Stevens May Have Misused Staff The Hill ($), 10/21

Stevens Faces Challenge to Win Case Politico, 10/20

Stevens Gets Testy in His Last Day on the Stand AP, 10/20

Stevens’ Testimony Continues New York Times, 10/20

Sen. Stevens Wife Takes the Fall on the Stand Washington Post, 10/17

Senator Stevens Testifies About Disclosure Forms New York Times, 10/17

Stevens’ Friend Denies Billing Allegation Washington Post, 10/16

Witness: VECO Chairman Used Stevens’ Home Anchorage Daily News, 10/15

Contractor: I was Urged to Donate Fixes to Stevens AP, 10/15

Judge Tells Stevens to Turn Over Disputed E-Mails The Hill, 10/15

Sen. Stevens May Testify in His Own Defense AP, 10/14

Stevens’ Lawyers Uses Prosecutor Disclosure Rules as Defense New York Times, 10/14

Sen. Stevens Calling on Famous Friends to Testify AP, 10/10

Judge Excludes Evidence in Alaska Senator’s Trial The New York Times, 10/8

An Angry Judge at Stevens Trial Washington Post, 10/7

Court Told Senator Had Idea of Gifts’ Value AP, 10/8

Mistrial Is Sought Again in Senator’s Case The New York Times, 10/6

This Week in Scandals ProPublica, 10/3

Stevens Trial to Continue Despite Prosecution Errors McClatchy Newspapers, 10/3

Stevens Trial Halted as Judge Considers Mistrial Anchorage Daily News, 10/2

Oilman: Stevens’ Aide Urged Me Not to Bill the Senator New York Times, 10/2

Ex-VECO CEO Continues Testimony in Stevens Trial McClatchy, 10/1

Stevens’ Friend Calls Thank-You Note a Ruse Washington Post, 10/1

Ex-VECO CEO Describes Gifts to Sen. Stevens’ Family New York Times, 10/1

Prosecutors Deny Misconduct in Stevens Trial AP, 9/30

Contractor Due to Testify Against Stevens AP, 9/30

Judge Slams Gov’t Tactics in Stevens Case AP, 9/29

Stevens: DoJ Withheld Evidence Politico, 9/29

‘No Paper Trail’ Ordered for Stevens Home Remodel AP, 9/29

Key Witnesses Delayed in Stevens Trial AP, 9/29

Prosecutor: Stevens Used VECO as ‘Personal Handyman’ McClatchy, 9/25

Stevens Blames Ex-VECO CEO in Gift-Giving Trial AP, 9/25

Embattled Alaska Sen. Stevens Tops List for Earmarks Wall Street Journal ($), 9/25

Sen. Steven’s Defense: ex-VECO CEO Gets $40 Million for Cooperation TPMmuckraker, 9/24

Jury Picked, Opening Set for Thurs. in Sen. Stevens Trial AP, 9/24

Sen. Stevens Asks to Skip Court During Financial Mess AP, 9/23