They're closing in on Ted Stevens!

September 25, 2007

Former Alaska Lawmaker Guilty of Bribery

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 7:34 p.m. ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Former Alaska lawmaker Pete Kott was convicted

Tuesday of trading his legislative influence for bribes from an oil field

services company that sought to profit from a proposed multibillion-dollar

pipeline.

Kott, who served as speaker of the House for part of his 14-year tenure, was

convicted of conspiracy to solicit financial benefits, extortion and

bribery. He was acquitted of wire fraud.

Kott was charged with accepting nearly $9,000, campaign services and the

promise of a job from VECO Corp., which stood to make millions if a more

than $20 billion natural gas pipeline were built.

The two-week trial carried wider implications, including testimony from VECO

chief Bill Allen that he doled out more than $400,000 in bribes to various

officials and had company workers remodel the home of Sen. Ted Stevens.

The FBI raided Stevens' home in July. Stevens has said he paid all bills he

received for the remodeling project, which more than doubled the size of the

home.

Allen and a company vice president, Rick Smith, have pleaded guilty to

bribing Kott and other lawmakers.

Prosecutors played recordings from wiretaps and a video camera planted in a

Juneau hotel room rented by VECO. The recordings show Kott, Allen and Smith

speaking in off-color language, often while drinking, tracking votes on the

proposed oil tax and plotting strategy.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.

AP's earlier story is below.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Former Alaska lawmaker Pete Kott, accused of

trading his legislative influence for bribes, was convicted Tuesday of

corruption charges.

Kott, who served as speaker of the House, was convicted of conspiracy to

solicit financial benefits, extortion and bribery. He was acquitted of wire

fraud.

The case spotlighted Kott's dealings with VECO Corp., which stood to make

millions if a more than $20 billion natural gas pipeline were built.

The two-week trial carried wider implications, including testimony from VECO

chief Bill Allen that he doled out more than $400,000 in bribes to various

officials and had company workers remodel the home of Sen. Ted Stevens.