H
Harry Hope
Guest
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/082807/loc_20070828014.shtml
August 28, 2007
Judge links Ben Stevens to FBI probe
Son of powerful U.S. senator publicly identified in corruption
investigation for the first time
PAT FORGEY
JUNEAU EMPIRE
A federal judge has for the first time publicly linked former Alaska
Senate President Ben Stevens, son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, to the
corruption investigation that has been underway since 2004.
At the same time, a federal prosecutor revealed there are "multiple,
ongoing nonpublic investigations" related to the ongoing inquiry into
ties between Alaska lawmakers and the oil industry.
Investigations have so far resulted in one criminal conviction, of
former state Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Anchorage, and indictments of former
Reps. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau; Pete Kott, R-Eagle River, and Vic
Kohring, R-Wasilla.
Weyhrauch and Kott, now a Juneau resident as well, are scheduled to go
to trial Sept. 5 in Anchorage.
The Stevens connection turned up in a legal filing in the Weyhrauch
case, in which U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick acknowledged Ben
Stevens' role.
Sedwick noted that the identification of Stevens had "already been
reported in the press," based on comparing the money paid by former
VECO Corp. CEO Bill Allen and Stevens' financial disclosure reports.
The indictments of Weyhrauch and Kott accuse them of having conspired
with Allen and an unidentified "State Senator A" to advocate for an
oil tax plan supported by VECO, an oil field services company, and the
state's oil producers.
In other court documents, such as Allen's indictment, Senator A is
listed as Senator B.
"The evidence which the United States will present at trial will show
that State Senator A is, in fact, Ben Stevens," Sedwick wrote.
Stevens, Weyhrauch, Kott and Kohring were among legislators whose
Capitol offices were searched by FBI agents last year.
_____________________________________________________
Harry
August 28, 2007
Judge links Ben Stevens to FBI probe
Son of powerful U.S. senator publicly identified in corruption
investigation for the first time
PAT FORGEY
JUNEAU EMPIRE
A federal judge has for the first time publicly linked former Alaska
Senate President Ben Stevens, son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, to the
corruption investigation that has been underway since 2004.
At the same time, a federal prosecutor revealed there are "multiple,
ongoing nonpublic investigations" related to the ongoing inquiry into
ties between Alaska lawmakers and the oil industry.
Investigations have so far resulted in one criminal conviction, of
former state Rep. Tom Anderson, R-Anchorage, and indictments of former
Reps. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau; Pete Kott, R-Eagle River, and Vic
Kohring, R-Wasilla.
Weyhrauch and Kott, now a Juneau resident as well, are scheduled to go
to trial Sept. 5 in Anchorage.
The Stevens connection turned up in a legal filing in the Weyhrauch
case, in which U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick acknowledged Ben
Stevens' role.
Sedwick noted that the identification of Stevens had "already been
reported in the press," based on comparing the money paid by former
VECO Corp. CEO Bill Allen and Stevens' financial disclosure reports.
The indictments of Weyhrauch and Kott accuse them of having conspired
with Allen and an unidentified "State Senator A" to advocate for an
oil tax plan supported by VECO, an oil field services company, and the
state's oil producers.
In other court documents, such as Allen's indictment, Senator A is
listed as Senator B.
"The evidence which the United States will present at trial will show
that State Senator A is, in fact, Ben Stevens," Sedwick wrote.
Stevens, Weyhrauch, Kott and Kohring were among legislators whose
Capitol offices were searched by FBI agents last year.
_____________________________________________________
Harry