3 Current, Ex-Alaska Lawmakers Arrested

Rep. Kohring And Ex-Reps. Kott And Weyhrauch Plead Not Guilty In Natural Gas Pipeline Bribery Case

(AP)  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.

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.

[inventagod2]

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...

[nwcruiser]

*** Chenney and Carl Rove are planning attack on the USA right now because that is the only thing that will save the Republicans.

[seven-pesos]

republicans and christians...

you can't tell one from the other.

flag wavers, bible thumpers, war makers.

republicans and christians.

what a bunch of clowns!

[iceman_1960]

"How Many Republicons have been locked up in the last six years?"
- 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."

[jerr11]

"Rep. Victor Kohring of Wasilla, Pete Kott of Eagle River and Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau, all Republicans"


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.

[kessati1]

O.K. i am from greece but what have this to do with god ,republicans, democrats....?this have just to do with greed humans that sold theyr soul to the $$$$ and now the get to pay for it.anything you do ,you will pay her (or your childs)on earth at lifetime.Not later (in hell)!!!!!

[same-sh1t]

Want to bet that after the dust has settled, the cameras moved on to the next scandal, that these bozos get off with a slap on the wrist?

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.

[bm6005]

"Send Lawyers, Guns and Money. The s.h.i.t. has hit the fan."

Warren Zevon

[wdrussell1]

Crooks, liars, and thieves now have their own political party. Since I am 60. I am old enough to remember when republicans actually cared about America.

[hazelknows]

This is the same party that supports our troops by allowing them to stay in Iraq and fight a civil war. This is only a diversion so repubs can fill their pockets, all in the name of God.

[inventagod]

How Many Republicons have been locked up in the last six years?

[antoniof123]

This is just too funny. How much more of this can I take before I die laughing. Some of you think that this is a suprise. Big business and big religion have been doing this type of thing from the very begining of time. But now that they have found the family value party of god they are never going to be controled like they were before. Hey does anyone remember the contract ON America and the ones who designed it. I think one of them is going to go to prison, the other is running for President (manybe) doesn't stand a chance, and last but not least the final one is using a web site to keep the message alive. What a bunch of jokers...

[gkc99]

Businesses and tribes paid bribes to Bushit's bag men because businesses and tribes had learned that to get any justice or even attention from Bushit and the Republiscum you must pay bribes--it's how business is done in the Bushit/Chickenshit administration. Everything is for sale.

[jn122736]

Why is it that corporations/business/Indian tribes etc. apparently, are never prosecuted for bribing a politician?

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.

[crater7]

ITS THE CLINTON'S FAULT.

[gkc99]

There are crooked Democrats, but not since the days of Tamany Hall have we seen an administration and a political party so pervaded by lies, theft, dishonesty and corruption. The fish rots from the head, and George W. *Bonzo* Bushit is as corrupt as they come.

Had enough of the Bushit?

[bobnjersey]

[Barack Obama Bin Laden?? Barack Obama Bin Laden?? ]

when viewed from space your posts have the familiar signature of a troll

[barbaraf4]

"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."
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.

[rikedoid]

So...you mean everyone has a price? A corporation would actually do this? The people supposedly being paid to uphold the law would actually accept this?

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?

[bluestardad]

GOOD OLE REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS!

STAY THE COURSE!

ARE THEY DOING YOUNG BOYS TOO, OR MAYBE CHICKENS?

DO THEY PREACH AT A LARGE MEGA CHURCH?

VOTE REPUBLICAN!