Ted Stevens indicted on corruption charges
By LISA DEMER and RICHARD MAUER
Anchorage Daily News
Published: July 29th, 2008 10:12 AM
Last Modified: July 29th, 2008 10:12 AM
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens was indicted this morning by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., on seven counts of filing false financial disclosures.
With the felony indictment, Stevens, an icon in Alaska politics, becomes by far the biggest politician charged in a broad investigation into corruption of Alaska public officials that began more than four years ago that has so far led to convictions of three state legislators and charges against two others.
The seven-count indictment charges Stevens with making false statements by failing to disclose things of value he received from Veco Corp., an Alaska-based oil services company, and from its chairman, Bill Allen, over an eight-year period. The indictment charges that those included substantial improvements to Stevens' home in Girdwood; automobile exchanges in which he received new vehicles that were worth far more than the old ones he exchanged; and household goods.
At the same time, according to the indictment, Stevens received solicitations for official actions from Allen and other Veco employees, and used his office on behalf of Veco. The federal Ethics in Government Act requires all senators to file financial disclosures statements detailing their transactions during the previous calendar year, including the disclosure of gifts above a specified value and all liabilities greater than $10,000.
Allen, the former Veco CEO, and Rick Smith, a former Veco vice president of community affairs and government relations, pleaded guilty in May 2007 to providing more than $400,000 in corrupt payments to public officials from Alaska.
The charges come almost exactly a year after an FBI and IRS raid on Stevens' home in Girdwood. Renovations in 2000 were overseen by Allen. The home doubled in size. Witnesses with knowledge of Veco's role have reported testifying before grand juries in Anchorage and Washington.
Stevens has said he paid all the bills he was presented, leaving open the question of whether he was billed the entire amount.
Stevens, 84, is the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. Senate. From 2003 to 2007, he was president pro tem. With political power that increased with his longevity, Stevens came to represent Alaska's clout in Congress.
His office has not responded to a request for comment.
