 John
Cowdery
 Pete
Kott
 Vic
Kohring
 Bruce
Weyhrauch
~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
 VECO
VECO
News:
20080827
 Ted
Stevens -  Don
Young -  Oil
-  Money
- VECO
-  Legal
-  Investigation
-  Alaska
-  Florida
-  Road
-  Construction
"Indicted
Senator Wins G.O.P. Primary." ... "[Alaska Republican]
Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska won the Republican primary in his home state
on Tuesday, soundly defeating six Republican challengers less than a month
after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for concealing more than
$250,000 in gifts from an oil services company." ... "The victory for Mr.
Stevens, 84, means he now moves to a tough general election campaign against
[Anchorage, Alaska Democratic] Mayor Mark Begich of Anchorage, who easily
won the Democratic primary on Tuesday and leads the senator in polls. Mr.
Stevens enters the general election also having to prepare for his trial,
which is scheduled to begin in late September." ... "[Alaska Republican]
Representative Don Young, the state's lone House member and a 35-year incumbent,
was locked in a close primary race with Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell early Wednesday.
With nearly 98 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Young led by fewer than
150 votes out of more than 85,000 cast." ... "Like Mr. Stevens, Mr. Young
is under federal investigation for his ties to VECO, a former oil services
company, but he also faces scrutiny on other matters, including a controversial
$10 million earmark he pushed through for a Florida road project. Mr. Young
has spent more than $1 million of his campaign funds on legal fees." -By
William Yardley -NYTimes
20080710
John
Cowdery - Kott
- Kohring
- Weyhrauch
- Oil
- Money
-  Politics
- VECO
-  Federal
- Crimes
- Alaska
"Cowdery
indicted on two corruption charges." ... "The federal
indictment filed today against state [Alaska state Republican Senator]
Sen. John Cowdery revolves around the oil tax legislation pushed so hard
by Veco Corp. [Corporation] and its executives in 2006." ... "The Anchorage
Republican is charged with conspiracy and bribery, accused of scheming
with Veco executives to win over another senator in the battle for the
tax favored by North Slope oil producers." ... "According to the 16-page
indictment, Cowdery and others conspired to give the other state senator
$25,000, characterized as campaign contributions." ... "[Veco chief executive
Bill] Allen and Veco vice president Rick Smith have pleaded guilty to bribing
legislators, including Cowdery, to push through a version of an oil tax
favored by North Slope producers." ... "Two former legislators, [Republican]
Pete Kott of Eagle River [Alaska] and [Republican] Vic Kohring of Wasilla
[Alaska], are serving federal prison sentences after being convicted of
corruption charges related to the push for the tax. A third former legislator,
[Republican] Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau [Alaska's capital], was indicted
too and is awaiting trial while courts consider an appeal on what evidence
can be heard." -By Lisa Demer
-ADN.com
20070914
-
Pete
Kott -
 Ben
Stevens - Ted
Stevens -  Secret
- Alaska
- VECO
- Oil
- Money
- Crime
- Politics
- 2006
Election - "Witness
in Alaska says he had oil company contacts: Ex-CEO
who pleaded guilty says he talked with top unit officials" ... "Veco Corp.'s
former chief executive told a federal jury Thursday that he was in regular
contact with officials at ConocoPhillips and BP's Alaska divisions while
bribing state lawmakers there to limit the state's oil production tax."
... "Bill Allen, ex-CEO of Veco, the [Alaska] Anchorage-based oil-services
contractor, made the claim at the bribery and fraud trial of former Alaska
state [Alaska state Republican Representative] Rep. Pete Kott. Allen told
jurors in Anchorage federal court that he paid Kott about $8,000 to help
fund the lawmaker's 2006 re-election campaign in exchange for his vote
and influence with other representatives during a legislative debate over
state oil taxes. Kott denied the charges." ... "Allen said he wanted to
keep oil taxes low for his oil producer clients, whom he called "the three
big boys" in secretly recorded conversations, and encouraged them to build
a multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48
states. The clients were ConocoPhillips, BP and Exxon Mobil, he said."
... "On Thursday Allen claimed to have paid phony consulting fees to [Alaska
state Republican Senator] Ben Stevens. Ben and [his father, Alaska Republican
Senator] Ted Stevens have denied any wrongdoing and haven't been charged
with a crime." -By Tony Hopfinger
-Bloomberg via -Chron
20070730
-
Ted
Stevens - Alaska
- Oil
- Money
-
 VECO
-  House
- Construction
- Politics
- Enforcement
- "FBI,
IRS searching Stevens' Girdwood house." ... "Federal
law enforcement agents are currently searching the Girdwood home of Alaska
[Republican Senator] U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens." ... "Federal investigators
and grand juries looking into public corruption in Alaska have been asking
questions about a 2000 remodeling project that more than doubled the size
of the Girdwood [Alaska] house -- particularly the involvement of the oil
field services firm Veco." ... "One of the contractors who worked on the
job said he was hired by Veco CEO Bill Allen for the job, and while his
bills were paid by Stevens and his wife, Catherine, invoices were reviewed
first by Veco." ... "Allen and a Veco vice president pleaded guilty in
May to bribery, extortion and other charges connected with paying off state
legislators." -By Richard Mauer and Erika Bolstad
-ADN.com
20070725
-
Don
Young -
 Jack
Abramoff
- Ted
Stevens - Ben
Stevens - Alaska
- VECO
- Oil
- Construction
- Money
- Politics
-  Colorado
- "Alaska's
Young and Stevens Face Criminal Inquiry." ... "[Alaska
Republican Representative] Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the former chairman
of the House Transportation Committee, now is the subject of a continuing
criminal inquiry involving possible political favors for a company in Alaska,
people close to the case said. [Alaska Senator Representative] Sen. Ted
Stevens of Alaska, the powerful former chairman of the Appropriations Committee
and the longest-serving Senate Republican, is also under criminal investigation."
... "Federal investigators are examining whether Rep. Young or Sen. Stevens
accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corp.,
Alaska's largest oil-field engineering firm, people close to the case said."
... "Mr. Young has also faced questions about campaign donations received
from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff." ... "VECO was acquired in June
by CH2M Hill, a closely held Colorado engineering firm, after Mr. Allen,
VECO's former CEO, agreed in May to plead guilty to charges of bribery,
conspiracy and extortion." ... "Mr. Stevens has publicly said that he was
asked to retain documents related to the federal investigation of his son,
[former Alaska State Republican Senator] Ben Stevens, and other members
of the state legislature, and related to VECO's role in the remodeling
of a family home in Alaska in 2000." -By John R. Wilke
-WSJ.com
20070718
-
Ted
Stevens - Ben
Stevens - Alaska
- Oil
- Legislators
- Home
- Politics
- VECO
- "Stevens:
My money, not Veco's: REMODEL: Senator is emphatic
that filing extensions are unrelated." ... "The money spent on renovations
that doubled the size of [Alaska Republican Senator] U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens'
Girdwood [Alaska] home and led to a federal grand jury investigation came
out of his own pocket, the Alaska Republican told reporters Tuesday." ...
"A federal grand jury is investigating the renovations in 2000, including
work that might have been performed by oil services company Veco and contractors
who were hired or supervised by the company. The company's former executive,
Bill Allen, has pleaded guilty to bribing state legislators." ... "Interest
in Stevens' finances has grown since the FBI raided the office of his son,
former Alaska Senate President [Republican] Ben Stevens, as part of a wider
corruption and bribery probe. The younger Stevens has not been charged
with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing." -By Erika
Bolstad -ADN.com
20070529
-
Ted
Stevens - Ben
Stevens - Alaska
- VECO
- House
- Construction
- Money
- Politics
- "Feds
eye Stevens' home remodeling project: GIRDWOOD [Alaska]:
Veco approved some invoices for 2000 upgrade at senator's house, says builder."
... "The FBI and a federal grand jury have been investigating an extensive
remodeling project at U.S. Sen. [Alaska Republican Senator] Ted Stevens'
home in Girdwood that involved the top executive of Veco Corp. in the hiring
of at least one of the key contractors." ... "Three contractors who worked
on the project said in recent interviews with the Daily News that the FBI
asked them to turn over their records from the job. One said he was called
to testify about the project before a federal grand jury in Anchorage [Alaska]
in December." ... "The remodeling work, which more than doubled the size
of the house, occurred in the summer and fall of 2000." ... "The FBI and
the U.S. Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, which are in the
midst of a broad investigation of corruption in Alaska, would not comment."
... "The wide-ranging federal inquiry surfaced in August [2006] when agents
raided six legislative offices, including those of then-Senate President
[former Alaska state Republican Senator] Ben Stevens, one of Ted Stevens'
sons." ... "Ben Stevens has not been charged. But the charges pleaded to
by Allen and Smith alleged Ben Stevens improperly accepted $242,000 from
Veco for "giving advice, lobbying colleagues, and taking official acts
in matters before the legislature."" -By Richard Mauer
-ADN.com
20070510
-
Don
Young - Ted
Stevens -
 Lisa
A Murkowski - Alaska
- VECO
- Oil
- Money
- Lawmaker
- Politics
-  History
- "Veco's
reach extended outside Alaska: DONATIONS: Money was
sent to national GOP and Bush campaign." ... "Guilty pleas from two oil
field services executives who admit bribing legislators have state officials
examining whether they should give up campaign contributions connected
to their company, for years a major player in state politics." ... "Campaign
donation records also show that Veco Corp. sent tens of thousands of dollars
to candidates outside Alaska, including [Republican] President Bush. One
of the executives, Veco founder and chief executive Bill Allen, served
as state financial co-chairman in Bush's 2000 campaign." ... "Since 1990,
[Alaska] Anchorage-based Veco, its employees and their family members gave
the state and national Republican parties, GOP congressional candidates
and Bush slightly more than $1 million, according to an analysis by the
watchdog Center for Responsive Politics. Bush's 2000 and 2004 presidential
campaigns received a total of about $24,000 of that money." ... "Allen
and Veco vice president Rick Smith pleaded guilty Monday in federal court
to spending more than $400,000 to bribe state lawmakers." ... "The campaign
and political action committee of [Alaska Representative] Republican U.S.
Rep. Don Young received close to one-quarter of the total Veco-related
donations examined by the Center for Responsive Politics. His campaign
received close to $230,000 and his Midnight Sun Political Action Committee
received $27,650, according to the center." ... "Representatives from the
campaigns of Alaska's U.S. senators, both Republicans, said they are reviewing
the donations. According to the center, [Alaska Republican Senator] Sen.
Ted Stevens received $86,000 connected to Veco from 1990 to 2006 and [Alaska
Republican Senator] Sen. Lisa Murkowski, first appointed in 2002 and re-elected
in 2004, received $45,250." -By Steve Quinn
-AP via -ADN.com
20070508
-
 US
- Alaska
-  Multinational
- VECO
Corp - Political
- Oil
- Money
- "2
oil services executives plead guilty to bribing Alaska lawmakers:
The founder of a multinational oil services company and one of his top
executives have admitted illegally paying more than $400,000 to Alaska
[Republican] lawmakers in a widening political corruption scandal." ...
"Bill J. Allen, chief executive of Anchorage-based VECO Corp., and Rick
Smith, a vice president, pleaded guilty Monday to bribing state legislators
with cash and the promise of jobs and favors for their backing on bills
supported by the company." ... "The pleas came days after the indictment
of one current and two former Republican members of the Alaska House of
Representatives on federal bribery and extortion charges related to last
year's negotiations for a new oil and gas tax and a proposed natural gas
pipeline that would have benefited VECO." ... "Allen also pleaded guilty
to issuing company bonuses to VECO executives to repay them for campaign
contributions they made to politicians, then claiming those bonuses as
legitimate company expenses." ... "VECO's executives are major contributors
to Republican political campaigns." -By Rachel D'Oro
with contributions by Steve Quinn -AP
via -StarTribune
-
Kohring
- Kott
- Weyhrauch
- John
Cowdery
- VECO
- Alaska
- Oil
- Money
- Politics
- "VECO
corruption scandal." ... "So far, only VECO's top
executives have admitted to their involvement in the conspiracy to trade
money and gifts for votes on oil and gasline issues." ... "Three [Alaska
Republican] lawmakers: current Representative Vic Kohring, former Representatives
Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch, and former VECO CEO, Bill Allen, have been
charged with conspiracy and fraud." ... "[Alaska state] Senators "A" and
"B" in the charging documents remain unnamed at this time. But Kevin Fitzgerald,
the attorney for John Cowdery, tells CBS 11 News he is convinced "Senator
A" is current Anchorage Senator Cowdery." ... "Cowdery's lawyer says, while
the FBI hasn't arrested his client, it is clear from Allen's charging documents
that "Senator A" and Cowdery have remarkable similarities." -By
Andrea Gusty -KTVA.com
20070507
-
Ben
Stevens - VECO
- Money
- Politics
- Alaska
- Enforcement
- "Charges
indicate Stevens was bribed by VECO execs." ... "Former
[Alaska Republican state Senator and Alaska state] Senate President Ben
Stevens has not been indicted, but the charging documents against [VECO
CEO] Bill Allen indicate Stevens received far more money for his "official
services" from VECO Corp. than the other indicted lawmakers." ... "VECO
paid Stevens' consulting company more than $243,000 since 2002." ... "According
to charging documents, Allen told U.S. attorneys that those payments were
largely for Stevens' "taking official acts" in his capacity as a legislator.
Allen also said Stevens only did 20 hours worth of consulting work for
VECO since 2002 that was not directly tied to state legislation." -By
Jason Moore -KTUU.com
-
Ben
Stevens - VECO
- Money
- Politics
- Alaska
- "Lawmakers
cited in Veco case identifiable." ... "Charging documents
unsealed by federal prosecutors Monday after Veco executives Bill Allen
and Rick Smith pleaded guilty in Anchorage [Alaska] to bribing Alaska legislators
refer to lawmakers only by letters --Representatives A, B and C, and Senators
A and B." ... "Senator B is described as being part of a conspiracy in
which Allen and Smith say they paid him "for giving advice, lobbying colleagues
and taking official acts in matters before the Legislature."" ... "One
former senator matches the description of Senator B: former [Alaska state
Republican Senator and] Senate President Ben Stevens." ... "The court documents
list payments from Veco to Senator B ranging from $43,750 to $57,000 a
year over five years, for a total of $243,250 between 2002 and 2006." ...
"Stevens reported on his legislative financial disclosure forms that he
received payments in those amounts from Veco, for a total of $243,250 over
those years." -By Lisa Demer and Sheila Toomey
-ADN.com
-
Ben
Stevens - VECO
- Money
- Politics
- Alaska
- Enforcement
- "Ben
Stevens implicated in VECO corruption probe." ...
"Federal authorities have not announced any action against former [Alaska
Republican state Senator and Alaska state] Senate President Ben Stevens,
but there is little doubt he is the man referred to in VECO Corporation
part-owner and CEO Bill Allen's indictment as "State Senator B." Those
documents describe him as a man whose income from VECO vastly eclipses
others charged in the corruption case." ... "In the court documents, Allen
acknowledges that in actuality the payments provided to the senator were
in exchange or giving advice, lobbying colleagues, and taking officials
acts in matters before the legislature." ... ""There were clear bribery
laws that were being broken here. I took it to the state troopers, I took
it to the district attorney, I took it to David Marquez, who was the attorney
general," [Alaska 'Republican Moderate Party' leader Ray] Metcalfe said.
"I took it to APOC [Alaska Public Offices Commission] I took it to every
single agency the state of Alaska has that's responsible for enforcing
the law; 100 percent of them, to the man, said no."" -By
Jason Moore -KTUU.com
-
VECO
- Bruce
Weyhrauch - Pete
Kott - Victor
Kohring - Alaska
- Money
- Politicians
- "Pleas
by Veco execs broaden corruption probe." ... "Charges
against two Veco Corp. executives who pleaded guilty in federal court today
suggest federal investigators are cutting a wider path through official
corruption in Alaska than was previously disclosed." ... "The charging
documents unsealed today against Veco CEO Bill Allen and Veco vice president
Rick Smith identify by letter three state legislators, two state senators,
an unnamed elected state official and two other Veco executives, plus refer
to "an Alaskan gubernatorial campaign." All the individuals referred to
are accused of doing something illegal to further the conspiracy to corrupt
public officials that Smith and Allen pleaded guilty to today." ... "Although
not named, the three representatives are easily identifiable because the
facts asserted mirror charges brought Friday against former [Alaska state
Republican Representatives] Reps. Bruce Weyhraugh [sic] and Pete Kott and
current Rep. Vic Kohring. All three were charged with bribery and corruption
and pleaded not guilty last week in Juneau [Alaska's capital] federal court."
-By Lisa Demer and Sheila Toomey
-ADN.com
20070506
-
Kott
- Weyhrauch
- Kohring
- John
Cowdery
- VECO
- Alaska
- Oil
- Money
- Politics
- "Kohring's
state House committee post pulled: OIL, GAS: Arrests
also put spotlight on 2006 petroleum profits tax law." ... "The chairman
of a key state House committee was deposed and Alaska's most important
oil tax law fell under new scrutiny Saturday as lawmakers reacted to the
arrest of one current and two former legislators [Alaska state Republican
Representatives Kott and Weyhrauch] on federal corruption charges." ...
"[Alaska state Republican Representative] Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla,
will lose his chairmanship of the Special Committee on Oil and Gas, House
leaders said. Kohring was charged with selling his vote on oil taxes last
year to oil field services company Veco." ... "The House committee had
an important early role in shaping gas pipeline legislation this year.
Republican majority leaders placed Kohring in charge of the committee this
session, even though he was one of six legislators whose offices were raided
by the FBI in a Veco-related probe last fall." ... "The legislation in
question was an overhaul of the state's oil production tax, which pays
for most of state government and adds to the Alaska Permanent Fund. Veco
wanted to keep the oil tax low and also was pressing for construction of
a gas pipeline from which it would profit, according to the indictment."
... "Kohring's leadership position was not challenged when the session
began, but objections were raised by minority Senate Republicans when [Alaska
state Republican Senator] Sen. John Cowdery, R-Anchorage, another FBI search
target, was named chairman of the powerful Rules Committee." -By
Tom Kizzia and Sabra Ayres -ADN.com
20070505
-
Victor
Kohring - Pete
Kott - Bruce
Weyhrauch -
 Tom
Anderson - Alaska
- VECO
- Oil
- Money
- Politicians
- "Federal
authorities charge three legislators: [Alaska Republican
state Representatives] Kohring, Kott and Weyhrauch plead not guilty to
extortion and bribery counts." ... "Three more state legislators were arrested
on federal corruption charges Friday, accused of selling their votes and
influence to the oil field services company Veco Corp. and its chief executive,
Bill Allen, during last year’s debate on oil taxes." ... "Acting on felony
indictments brought by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section,
federal agents arrested the three Republicans in Juneau - one a sitting
legislator, Rep. Vic Kohring of Wasilla, and two others who left office
in January, Reps. Pete Kott of Eagle River and Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau."
... "The indictments, unsealed with the arrests, describe a conspiracy
among the legislators, Veco, Allen and Veco's vice president for government
affairs, Rick Smith, to steer an oil-production tax bill favored by the
industry through the Legislature last year." ... "The charges describe
the three lawmakers seeking money, jobs or both for themselves or family
members, and Veco willing to oblige." ... "The FBI investigation of Alaska’s
Legislature and its relationship with Veco and other companies became public
in August, when agents raided the offices of six sitting legislators."
... "Since then, one other former House member, Republican Tom Anderson
of Anchorage, was charged in December with taking $12,828 in bribes from
a lobbyist representing private prison interests." -By
Richard Mauer, Lisa Demer, Sabra Ayres, and Kyle Hopkins
-ADN.com
20070504
-
Victor
Kohring - Pete
Kott - Bruce
Weyhrauch - Alaska
- Politicians
- Gas
- Company
- VECO
- "3
Current, Ex-Alaska Lawmakers Arrested: [Alaska Republican
state Representatives] Rep. Kohring And Ex-Reps. Kott And Weyhrauch Plead
Not Guilty In Natural Gas Pipeline Bribery Case." ... "One current and
two former Alaska legislators pleaded not guilty Friday to charges they
accepted bribes —including cash and a job offer in Barbados for one man
— to support legislation for an oil services company." ... "Rep. Victor
Kohring of Wasilla, Pete Kott of Eagle River and Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau,
all Republicans, were arrested Friday." ... "The indictment does not name
the company, but an attorney for VECO Corp. said it was the company involved."
... "Kohring was charged with extortion, attempted extortion, bribery and
conspiracy. Kott and Weyhrauch each face four counts, including extortion,
bribery and wire or mail fraud." -AP
via -CBSNews
20070504
-
Victor
Kohring - Pete
Kott - Bruce
Weyhrauch - Tom
Anderson - Alaska
- Politicians
-Gas
- Company
- VECO
- "Lawmakers
arrested." ... "One current and two former Alaska
[Republican state Representatives] legislators are indicted by a federal
grand jury. Current Mat-Su Representative Victor Kohring and former legislators
Pete Kott and Bruce Weyhrauch, are facing a multitude of charges including
extortion, bribery, wire fraud and mail fraud." ... "The arrests come after
a lengthy FBI investigation that started months ago. You'll recall, former
[Alaska Republican state] Representative Tom Anderson was indicted on similar
charges in December. He is now awaiting his trial." ... "While charging
documents conceal the company's identity, VECO confirms to CBS 11 News
that they are, in fact, the company in those recorded discussions where
lawmakers were promising their votes and support in exchange for cash and
future jobs." ... "Kott admitted he based his support of the gas pipeline
and PPT tax issues on the things of value from VECO." ... "In a later conversation,
Kott tells [VECO CEO Bill] Allan, " I had to get'er done. So, I had to
come back and face this man right here. I had to cheat, steal, beg, borrow
and lie."" ... "To which Allan replied, "I own your ass."" -By
Andrea Gusty -KTVA.com
20060831
-
Alaska
- Oil
- Company
- Politics
- "FBI
searches offices of Alaska lawmakers: Legislators
targeted in five locations as part of 'pending investigation'." ... "Federal
agents raided the offices of at least six Alaska lawmakers [5 Republicans
and 1 Democrat] Thursday in a search for any ties between the legislators
and a large oil field services company, officials said." ... ""This morning,
investigators from the FBI interviewed me in my office regarding an investigation
of VECO [oil and construction corporation]," Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla,
said in a prepared statement." ... "Agents conducted office searches in
both Juneau and Anchorage belonging to Sen. John Cowdery, R-Anchorage,
the Senate Rules Committee chairman." ... "The offices of Senate President
Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage; Kohring; Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau; Sen.
Donald Olson, D-Nome; and Rep. Pete Kott, R-Eagle River also were searched."
-AP via -MSNBC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
CapitalEye.org - OpenSecrets.org
VECO REPORT
20070509
"Oil
Company in Scandal Gave Outside of Alaska: VECO executives
and employees have contributed $1 million to federal politicians and parties
since 1989, Center [for Responsive Politics] finds. In Alaska, lawmakers
have rushed to dump the money." ... "The multinational oil services company
at the center of a political corruption scandal in Alaska’s statehouse
has been a generous contributor to federal lawmakers as well, the Center
for Responsive Politics has found. From 1989 through 2006, VECO, its employees
and their families contributed about $1 million to current and former members
of Congress from 26 states, as well as to [Republican] President Bush,
political parties, other committees and issue advocacy groups." ... "VECO
has been the top
Alaska-based contributor to federal politics for at least the last
five election cycles, the Center found. Like most oil
and gas companies, VECO is staunchly Republican; 97% of its contributions
have gone to Republican interests." ... "The top recipients of money from
the company (shown in a table below) are, not surprisingly, members of
Congress representing Alaska. [Alaska Republican Representative] Rep.
Don Young, a Republican who is the state’s only congressman, has taken
in at least $257,320 from VECO in the last 18 years through his campaign
committee and political action committee. VECO has been Young’s most generous
campaign contributor over that period, according to CRP’s research." ...
"Alaska’s senior statesman in Washington, [Republican Senator] Sen.
Ted Stevens, has received at least $156,000 through his campaign and
committees that he uses to support fellow Republican candidates. Stevens’s
son Ben [Republican], a former president of the Alaska state Senate, has
been implicated in the VECO scandal. He has not been charged and denies
any wrongdoing." ... "Two members of another prominent Alaska political
family have also benefited from VECO contributions. The state’s other U.S.
senator, [Alaska Republican] Sen.
Lisa Murkowski, has received $45,250 from company employees, and her
father, Frank, received at least $27,947 while he was in the U.S. Senate.
[Republican] Frank
Murkowski appointed his daughter to take his Senate seat in 2002 after
he was elected governor." ... "[Republican] President
Bush received about $24,000 from VECO employees for his 2000 and 2004
campaigns. In addition, the company itself contributed $25,000 toward a
2001 Republican fundraising dinner hosted by the president. The president’s
father, former President George H. W. Bush, received $9,000 from VECO employees
during his unsuccessful 1992 re-election campaign." ... "Hawaii [Democratic
Senator] Sen.
Daniel Inouye is the only Democrat currently serving in Congress to
receive money from VECO ($15,000 in the 2004 election cycle). [Senator]
Sen.
Christopher “Kit” Bond, a Missouri Republican, is another out-of-state
member of Congress who is a top recipient of money from VECO ($10,516).
A number of current members have received $6,000 or less from VECO, and
some beneficiaries of VECO's largesse no longer hold federal office. The
company’s federal giving peaked in the 2004 cycle, when employees and their
families contributed $218,600 to candidates for Congress, president and
party committees." ... "One current member of the Alaska House of Representatives
and two former Republican members were indicted last week for allegedly
accepting bribes from VECO in exchange for supporting the company’s positions
on oil and gas taxes and a natural gas pipeline. They have pleaded not
guilty." ... "VECO’s chief executive, Bill Allen, and Rick Smith, a vice
president who served as the Anchorage-based company’s chief lobbyist, appeared
in federal court Monday to plead guilty to paying off state legislators.
In all, Allen and Smith have contributed nearly $270,000 at the federal
level since 1989, the Center found. In addition to making contributions
in his own name, Allen acknowledged rewarding VECO executives with bonuses
as repayment for campaign contributions, which is illegal. It is unclear
whether the politicians who received these contributions were state or
federal officeholders." ... "Other than Allen’s admission that he illegally
rewarded employees who made contributions, no evidence has been presented
publicly that VECO’s donations to particular members of Congress were illegal.
But no politician wants to be even tangentially associated with a corruption
scandal. Several Alaska lawmakers have already dumped contributions they
received from VECO, opting to donate the money to charity to avoid its
taint. Members of Congress may follow suit, as they have in other scandals
involving presumably legal contributions. Recipients
of campaign donations from the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his
clients returned or donated more than $700,000 after Abramoff pleaded guilty
to bribing officials." -By Massie Ritsch with contributions
by Douglas Weber -CapitalEye.org
-OpenSecrets.org
CapitalEye.org - OpenSecrets.org
Federal Recipients
of VECO Contributions, 1989-2006
[amounts received are under recipients name]
Don Young (R [Republican]-Alaska)
$257,320
Ted Stevens (R [Republican]-Alaska)
$156,000
Republican National Cmte
$133,450
National Republican Senatorial Cmte
$75,000
Republican Party of Alaska
$60,170
Lisa Murkowski (R [Republican]-Alaska)
$46,250
Frank H. Murkowski (R [Republican]-Alaska)
$27,947
2001 President's Dinner Cmte [Republican]
$25,000
George W. Bush (R) [Republican]
$24,050
Richard Pombo (R [Republican]-Calif)
$16,312
William L. Hensley (D [Democratic]-Alaska)
$16,250
Slade Gorton (R [Republican]-Wash)
$15,000
Daniel K. Inouye (D [Democratic]-Hawaii)
$15,000
Christopher S. 'Kit' Bond (R [Republican]-Mo)
$10,516
George H. W. Bush (R) [Republican]
$9,000
Republican Party of Missouri
$8,000
George R. Nethercutt Jr. (R [Republican]-Wash)
$7,000
Richard Burr (R [Republican]-NC)
$6,000
Tom Coburn (R [Republican]-Okla)
$6,000
Norm Coleman (R [Republican]-Minn)
$6,000
James W. DeMint (R [Republican]-SC)
$6,000
Greg Ganske (R [Republican]-Iowa)
$6,000
Tim Hutchinson (R [Republican]-Ark)
$6,000
John E. Sununu (R [Republican]-NH)
$6,000
James M. Talent (R [Republican]-Mo)
$6,000
John Thune (R [Republican]-SD)
$6,000
David Vitter (R [Republican]-La)
$6,000
Helen Chenoweth (R [Republican]-Idaho)
$5,000
Conrad Burns (R [Republican]-Mont)
$4,000
Arlen Specter (R [Republican]-Pa)
$4,000
George V. Voinovich (R [Republican]-Ohio)
$3,750
National Republican Congressional Cmte
$3,300
Rick White (R [Republican]-Wash)
$3,000
John Ensign (R [Republican]-Nev)
$2,000
Bob Beauprez (R [Republican]-Colo)
$1,000
Max Burns (R [Republican]-Ga)
$1,000
Jennifer Dunn (R [Republican]-Wash)
$1,000
Steve Pearce (R [Republican]-NM)
$1,000
Jon Porter (R [Republican]-Nev)
$1,000
Denny Rehberg (R [Republican]-Mont)
$1,000
Tony Smith (D [Democratic]-Alaska)
$1,000
Dick Thornburgh (R [Republican]-Pa)
$1,000
Jim Bunn (R [Republican]-Ore)
$500
Frank A. Cremeans (R [Republican]-Ohio)
$500
Barbara Cubin (R [Republican]-Wyo)
$500
Democratic Party of Alaska
$500
Jim Gibbons (R [Republican]-Nev)
$500
J. D. Hayworth (R [Republican]-Ariz)
$500
Rick Hill (R [Republican]-Mont)
$500
James B. Longley Jr. (R [Republican]-Maine)
$500
Linda Smith (R [Republican]-Wash)
$500
Randy Tate (R [Republican]-Wash)
$500
John S. Devens (D [Democratic]-Alaska)
$350
Larry Craig (R [Republican]-Idaho)
$200
Bob Dole (R) [Republican]
$200
Grand totals include contributions to campaign committees, political
action committees and parties. Based on data available April 2, 2007 from
the Federal Election Commission.
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