3 Current, Ex-Alaska Lawmakers Arrested
Rep. Kohring And Ex-Reps. Kott And Weyhrauch Plead Not Guilty In Natural Gas Pipeline Bribery Case
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Alaska Rep. Victor Kohring, R-Wasilla, is led into the Federal Court Room for arraignment in Juneau, Alaska on Friday, May 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Miller)
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110th Congress
The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
Rep. Victor Kohring of Wasilla, Pete Kott of Eagle River and Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau, all Republicans, were arrested Friday.
Prosecutors allege the scheme unfolded as lawmakers weighed a new petroleum profits tax structure and a new contract for a natural gas pipeline last year.
Kott explicitly linked his support of the pipeline and the company's preferred version of the tax proposal to benefits during a teleconference with company officials, according to the indictment.
You'll get your gas line, the governor gets his bill, and I'll get my job in Barbados, he told company executives, the indictment states.
The tax passed, but the contract for the pipeline negotiated by former Gov. Frank Murkowski was never approved.
The indictment does not name the company, but an attorney for VECO Corp. said it was the company involved.
Kott is accused of accepting $8,993 in payments, $2,750 in polling expenses and a future contract as a lobbyist in exchange for his support of the pipeline and a tax proposal that favored the company, according to court documents.
Kohring is accused of demanding and accepting up to $2,600 in cash and a $3,000 job for a relative from VECO executives in exchange for his support. The indictment also alleges Kohring sought but did not receive a $17,000 loan for credit card debt.
Weyhrauch is charged with helping advance the oil service company's causes in exchange for the promise of legal work in the future for the company, the indictment said.
FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez said the arrests stemmed from an investigation that led federal agents last summer to raid the offices of at least six lawmakers, including Kott and Weyhrauch.
Amy Menard, an attorney representing VECO in the investigation, told The Associated Press that the Anchorage-based corporation has turned over more than 100,000 pages of documents to the government, she said.
VECO has been cooperating since day one, since it learned of the investigation. The government has indicated to the company that it is satisfied with the cooperation and is looking forward to continued cooperation, she said.
Kott's son, Peter Kott Jr., declined comment when reached at the family's Eagle River business. Weyhrauch's attorney Doug Pope and Kott's attorney James Wendt declined to comment on the case.
John Henry Browne, an attorney for Kohring, said the lawmaker plans to fight the charges.
He has a good deal of faith in the system, Browne said.
Weyhrauch did not run for re-election to his house seat in November. Kott, a former House speaker, lost a bid to retain his seat in the August primary. It was not clear Friday if they ever took the jobs they were allegedly promised after they left the Legislature; however, Kott is not a registered lobbyist.
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.
A combined trial for Kott and Weyhrauch was set for July 9 in Anchorage. A trial date was not set for Kohring. If convicted of all charges, each of the men could face up to 55 tears in prison and a $1 million fine. All were to be released Friday on $20,000 bonds.
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Big business with all its huge private sector money has had its way with the republican party, but at the GOP's direction. The God doesn direct a man to stand up and campaign for himself by insulting and smearing lies about the challenger while spewing lies himself. God doesnt direct a man to stand in the pulpit or on stage and tell people his version of christianity, while he justifies his HomoSexual prostitution and druge habits when no one is looking.
Those with money and power are the ones to never trust.
You want someone in power that doesnt want it. You want to hire someone that doesnt want the paycheck.
People who spend their lives trying to make a fortune havent spent their lives doing God's work. ..period.
Book 'em Dano!
Posted by kansas1946 at 11:03 PM : May 04, 2007
Thats because god loves criminals only, right georgie.
Ahhhhh,
Just another day. Same story, differant day.
please dont blame the prez,
MONKEEEY SEE, MONKEEEY DOOOOOOO
Non Republican crooks would get 'years' in prison as comapred to 'tears'.
I was right with you until that last comment about Bush throwing away the key too.
I don't blame Bush for this but you apparently haven't been following the politicising of the Justice Dept. in the news if you think he wants to lock up crooked pols regardless of party.
Barack Obama Bin Laden?? Barack Obama Bin Laden??
Barack Obama Bin Laden?? Barack Obama Bin Laden??
Posted by didntinhale at 07:52 AM : May 05, 2007
LOL What's wrong Sparky? Get that Swastika caught? It's really tough on you Nazi's these day's isn't it? The old stand by "Libs" did it just doesn't work when the guys on your side keep getting locked up. I'd suppose we'll hear you clowns start attacking the "Liberal" Justice System for locking them up real soon!! LMAO Sieg Heil and have a nice day!! ROFLMAO What an Idiot!!
STAY THE COURSE!
ARE THEY DOING YOUNG BOYS TOO, OR MAYBE CHICKENS?
DO THEY PREACH AT A LARGE MEGA CHURCH?
VOTE REPUBLICAN!
How naive do you have to be? And when this happens, who exactly do you suppose pays to float somebody else's boat? You don't mind heading off to work every day to pay out for this right?
Posted by realpatriot1 at 08:18 AM : May 05, 2007
I DO blame Bush for creating (or allowing to be created) the political climate that allows this sort of criminal activity. This is just one of zillions across this nation. The rest haven't been discovered.
when viewed from space your posts have the familiar signature of a troll
Had enough of the Bushit?
Cunningham and Abramoff . are in prison, primarily for taking or soliciting bribes.But the ones who bribed them were, apparently, never
prosecuted.
Evidently, it is illegal to solicit or accept a bribe but not illegal to offer or pay a bribe.
Warren Zevon
They will you realize -- because after all the DoJ is now populated by people chosen for ideology not competence.
... or maybe competence is determined by knowing which people Karl Rove wants to prosecute.
All Republicans? That's impossible!
Republicans will never do such a thing as take bribes, extort or commit mail fraud!
This is nothing but a left wing conspiracy to smear all good Republicans everywhere.
- Posted by inventagod at 10:10 AM : May 05, 2007
Back when "The West Wing" and "Commander in Chief" were running, Jey Leno noted:
"Republicans are complaining about these television series. All about Democrats. There are no Republicans being shown in television dramas.
Well, don't worry. When "Prison Break" returns in the Fall there'll be lots of Republicans on TV."
you can't tell one from the other.
flag wavers, bible thumpers, war makers.
republicans and christians.
what a bunch of clowns!
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by inventagod2
May 5, 2007 4:51 PM PDT
- The Department of Justice is packed with Republicans. It will be interesting to watch who gets hard time, and who gets the slap on the wrist...
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