Friend Turns On Senator In Corruption Case

Wealthy Oil Contractor Testifies He Gave Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens Thousands Of Dollars In Gifts

(AP)  A longtime friend of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens crossed the powerful lawmaker Tuesday and testified that he gave the Republican senator thousands of dollars in gifts.

The fiercely loyal Stevens gave no indication he even saw former fishing and drinking buddy Bill Allen enter the courtroom, and the two men barely looked at each other as Allen testified about the expensive gifts he gave Stevens during their 26-year friendship.

Stevens, 84, is on trial for failing to disclose about $250,000 in gifts and favors on Senate financial documents.

"That's Ted, right over there," Allen said, pointing across the crowded courtroom to an expressionless Stevens.

At the heart of the case is a massive home renovation project in which Allen helped transform the senator's small A-frame cabin into a two-story home with a garage, sauna, wine cellar and wraparound porches.

There were other favors, too, said Allen, who founded the multibillion-dollar oil pipeline company VECO Corp. In late 1999, Allen said, Stevens feared that the Y2K computer bug would crash the power grid and leave his house in the dark.

"So I went and got a generator and put it in," Allen testified.

"Did he ask you for this?" prosecutor Joseph Bottini asked.

"Yeah, he said he needed a generator," Allen responded, his head lowered, as he told jurors that Stevens never paid for the $5,000-to-$6,000 generator.

At the apex of their careers, the two friends held nearly unrivaled power. Stevens was a master of the Senate, a beloved figure in Alaska who steered billions of dollars to his home state. Allen was a self-made millionaire who could summon state lawmakers to his hotel room for drinks and tell them how to vote.

Wearing an electronic hearing aid and speaking slowly because of a head injury that followed a motorcycle accident, Allen at times seemed wistful about those days, and about his lost friendship.

"We really liked each other, you know?" Allen said. "Ted really worked hard. Ted loved Alaska and I loved Alaska."

But the Justice Department corruption investigation targeting Stevens changed everything.

Confronted with overwhelming evidence against him, Allen turned on the senator. The last time the two men spoke, FBI agents were listening in. Since then, Allen has pleaded guilty to bribery, sold his company and turned against his old friends in hopes of reducing his own prison time.

Prosecutors spent much of Tuesday trying to bolster Allen's credibility by discussing a backbreaking career that took him from picking crops to learning to weld to running VECO.

Over the past few days, VECO employees have testified to working long hours at Stevens' home south of Anchorage, building a balcony and a roof, installing a custom staircase and a generator, upgrading the electrical system and more.

The complicated project involved raising the house on stilts and building a new floor below. Workers testified they were pulled off their regular jobs or received nighttime phone calls to work on Stevens' house.

Allen spent 90 minutes on the stand Tuesday and was expected to spend most of Wednesday discussing the house project.

The senator says he never asked Allen for any free work. In fact, he says he made it clear he wanted his friend to send him every bill for the job. If freebies were tacked on, he says, Allen did so without telling him.

Stevens, who spends more time at his home in Washington than in Alaska, says he paid little attention to the project that his wife oversaw. He says he assumed the $160,000 they paid for the project covered everything.

Along with the house project, Stevens is charged with cutting a sweetheart car deal with Allen. In 1999, Stevens traded his average-condition 1964½ Mustang convertible and $5,000 to Allen for a new, loaded $44,000 Range Rover.

Allen testified he thought Stevens got the better of that deal by about $5,000 to $10,000 but said he went through with it "because I liked Ted." Other times, he undercut that claim, saying the Mustang was a good investment that has appreciated.

Prosecutors are moving quickly through their witness list and said they could rest their case as soon as Thursday. Stevens would begin presenting his defense Monday and his lawyers have said they may call several sitting senators as character witnesses.

While Stevens has been tied to the courtroom in Washington, Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich has been campaigning back home to oust Stevens from his Senate seat. Stevens is hoping for a speedy verdict that will send him back to Alaska victorious in time for Election Day.

[jerkytree]

This Senator is 84 years old and should have been removed from the Senate a long time ago. Term limitation is a must and a prerequisit for real change in Washington. It is a disgrace that we the taxpayers have to put up with htese scumbags.

[gop_will_win]

Ofcourse she was. These liberals will stop at nothing to smear the republicans.

[primilioneah]

When talking of old does Senator Robert Byrd, a Democrat from West Virginia make the grade?

[indianaman13]

A supposedly intelligent politician, supposed leader of the people, who must be organized to deal with all the bureaucratic paperwork that goes with the job, can''t keep track of his finances, his house, or what his wife is doing? If he''s in dementia he needs medical help, otherwise, he''s not the type who should lead or be a politician. It makes no difference if hes a Democrat or a Republican. If he can''t keep track or things, he needs to be ousted.

[renonv5]

jerkytree, I could not agree with you more. That these people are allowed to be in office for their entire lives is ludicrous. We the people have to change this nonsense, because obviously the one''s in Washington never will.

[pvperson]

Which is worse, thieving republican politicians or the morons like gop_will_win that support them?

[burneb]

You know how it is with US Senators, just too busy to notice an extra quarter million dollars of work donated to you with nothing expected in return. People are always doing things like that for you without letting you know about it.

However, this could be another case where the briber is convicting of giving a bribe that the bribee is acquited of receiving.

[docpeter1953]

From the above article, "Stevens says that if freebies were tacked on to the job, Allen did so without telling him. Because the senator''s wife handled all the finances, he says there''s no way he could have known Allen was adding on work."

_____________________

Allen must be dumb. He admitted to bribery when all he needed to say was "I am giving the Senator a few freebies"

[usclimey]

Not sure about term limits but I''d be OK with a rule that says they can''t run past 70. That''d go for presidents as well.

[obamaslady]

I think I''ve seen this same movie repeatedly over the past several years. It''s time that more and more of these GOP crooks are finally taken to court for their well-deserved embezzelment and fraud trials.

Actually, many of them have stated that they will NOT run again for reelection [probably because they know the money trail leads directly to their office]. I could not agree more that TERM LIMITS ARE ESSENTIAL TO RID US OF THESE OLD CROOKS AS THEY CONTINUE STIFFING THE PUBLIC. THEY "WORK" [if that''s what its called] ONLY A FEW DAYS ANNUALLY AND GET BENEFITS ANY OF US WOULD DIE FOR! Get these OLD SOB''s outta there! Ya gotta just love it - what a CON!

[obamaslady]

Absolutely right, Dem Senator Robert Byrd, 90, needs to be put to pasture as well. No matter the Party, age and/or term limits must apply to them all!

[docpeter1953]

Which is worse, thieving republican politicians or the morons like gop_will_win that support them?

Posted by PVperson at 02:26 PM : Sep 30, 2008
_________________

Toss-up there. But gop_will_win is a troll not a moron.

Actually, my day isn''t complete unless I have at least one of gop''s comments. Sad think is I look forward everyday to seeing whatever idiotic thing gop has to say. sort of like my morning coffee. I feel so lonely Saturday and Sunday without him/her.

[gop_will_win]

Toss-up there. But gop_will_win is a troll not a moron.

Actually, my day isn''''t complete unless I have at least one of gop''''s comments. Sad think is I look forward everyday to seeing whatever idiotic thing gop has to say. sort of like my morning coffee. I feel so lonely Saturday and Sunday without him/her.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by docpeter1953
============================
Be lonely no more! Every Sunday I post Bush mass for shut ins here.


http://groups-beta.google.com/group/abc_politics_forum?hl=en

[caldwellptr]

Dear Senator Stevens, Please send me an Oil Company to build me a modest home. It doesn''t even need to be one of the big ones like Shell, Exxon or such, just as long as they know how to deliver oil and gas to the consumer and how to build modest homes. Thanks for all you have done for the United States and for Alaska. XOXO

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by fenner at 03:32 PM

I love that you post. People get to see that Sarah Palin isn''t the only stupid one.

[questionnews]

Rebubs sucking up "gifts" & pay-offs.
Dems with stacks of ill-gotten-booty in the freezer.

Oh yeah! One party is better than the other??

But the "Party People" keep saying their party is more honest & forthright than the other one.
Time to get rid of the two party system & go for the no party system.

[inventagod2]

and HOW MANY Republican lawmakers are now in prison???

[antoniof123]

and HOW MANY Republican lawmakers are now in prison???

Posted by inventagod2 at 04:51 PM : Sep 30, 2008

I lost count and yes, the Democrats do break the law but they are so prdictible and easy to catch. They hide it in there home of course this is 1 to a lost count lately. And the Democrats are trying to get rid of him they kicked him off of the committes he was on.

Now remember that Dennis the house speaker wanted to change the law for Delay so he could stay on.

Says something of the lesser of two evils. No you don''t get a cookie but good try.

[tonic1111]

Let''s see , think Keating Five savings and loan debacle , think member of the Keating Five, think John Mc Cain.

[tonic1111]

pmsnbc 2

Let''''s see , think Keating Five savings and loan debacle , think member of the Keating Five, think John Mc Cain.

[jn122736]

Not sure about term limits but I''''d be OK with a rule that says they can''''t run past 70. That''''d go for presidents as well.

Posted by usclimey at 02:34 PM : Sep 30, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

usclimey;
I do not agree with the age limit idea, although I would support term limits as a last resort.
However a far better solution would be a strict campaign finance law that would all but eliminate the influence of lobbyists and end 90% of what causes so much corruption.

Of course we could pass an amendment to the constitution to over ride the Supreme courts decision that Corporations have the same rights as the individual voter when contributing to campaigns, or perhaps keep the presidency under democratic control long enough (20-30 years) to replace the corporate-owned justices that have infiltrated the Court.

[leftyintexas]

Another lying toe tapping republiCON poltician bits the dust! I''M LOVING IT!!!!

[questionnews]

Watching Repubs & Dem argue about which party is best for America is no different that watching The Bloods & The Crips argue about which gang is better for the neighborhood.

Except street gang actually have codes they abide by, which is more than either party can claim.

[aceshigh333-2009]

We''''re just sorry that you got away.

Posted by McTwoteeth

What''s your excuse???
Got knocked in your head tring to be murdered sfter birth...That''s right... Your born, your killed, it''s murder. It''s ok with Obama. I wish I could send you pictures MC2teeth so your can understand.....

[xmanborg]

Another RepubliCon getting his fingers caught in the cookie jar and taking cookies without telling.

Shame on you RepubliCon.

[tejasdemo]

Do they serve moose stew in Alaska state prison ?

Here''s hoping Mr. Stevens gets lots and lots of chances to find out.

[xmanborg]

I am sure Sarah Palin and good old Ted have lots of free gifts from Big Oil Stashed Away.

[tejasdemo]

I am for a bridge to nowhere for Ted. Put Ted on it. Send him across the bridge. Once he''s there, blow the D amn thing so he cant come back.

Enjoy the moose, ***

[benighse]

The HEADLINE makes it look like Palin probably asked for her rockin'' chair back off Se. Ted Stevens bribery porch, so she could give it to McCain to use for his naps in Sedona.

[gwjackie]

THE REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING THIS A SICK WORLD TO LIVE IN.

[benighse]

BY THE WAY---WHY DO PALIN''S ETHICS ALLOW HER TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT INDICTED ALASKA SENATOR TED STEVENS AS HER CHOICE TO REMAIN ALASKA''S SENATOR????? WHY???? .....BECAUSE THAT''S HOW YOU GET BRAND NEW BRIDGES TO NOWHERE WHILE BRIDGES IN MINNESOTA AND LEVEES IN LOUISIANA FALL INTO THE RIVER FROM DISREPAIR!!!! .....THE MCCAIN/PALIN TICKET IS A TICKET TO NOWHERE!!! IT''S TIME TO ELECT BARACK OBAMA WITH HIS VICE-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR AN AMERICA WE CAN MAKE A PROUD PARTNER IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY!!!

[benighse]

It really is pretty easy to find information on the internet. Here is one of Sarah Palin''s prior jobs that might not have originally appeared on her resume.

Sarah Palin, Director, "TED STEVENS EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, INC."
1515 W. 13th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501-4214
907-276-2693
2004-2005 (while Mayor of Wasilla City, AK)

Wasilla City, AK population approximately 6,500--That''s right 6,500 people.

Congressional earmarks for Wasilla City from Don Young and Ted Stevens while Sarah Palin was Mayor--$27,000,000.00, even though the annual budget was approximately 12 million. And now even though she says "congressional earmarks" are BAD.

Mind you this is the SAME Alaska Senator Ted Stevens that is on trial right here.

[brianbwb-2009]

It is only too bad that federal prosecutors didn''t look at a bigger bust, had it been me, I would have gathered all the evidence in private, then got Stevens to rat out who he paid off in the senate and house to approve all the earmarks, and where he got the money to do so.

[ll2owt]

I fully support sperm limits, especially repug limits.

[donevis-2009]

Whoa! I''d hate to be on the Steven''s Defense attorney%u2019s team. I''d have to pass a note to Stevens with a doodled picture of a screw and a U & R in front of it. This is an amazing story unfolding here. Guess "the good ole boy" thing is kinda falling apart on him. Even though Allen is just telling the truth to save his own rump I can''t help but find it very refreshing to have some sort of truth come from Halls of Justice. One could only hope it will continue in other matters and investigations. "God Speed USA"

[G H M]

Off with his HEAD!

[G H M]

An other Republican Crook going down.
Palin would be next with troopergate! ABUSE OF POWER!!
(republican have setup a puppet judge to get her off.)

This is one way to eliminate all the corrupt republicans.

We are contaminated by two in Navada.
Republicans John Ensign and jon Porter
Bushs Rubber stamps!
Bad for the US and Nevada

[lochlan-2009]

So what did this, again another corrupt GOP senator, payout for these bribes? I didn''t see how much the "friend" received for his bribing a senator, anywhere in the article.

[babooph]

When you get old,all you can do about your mistakes,is to regret them.

[sandy19731]

Well Sweet Bahboo,
I think the best thing to do about your mistakes regaradless of your age is to try your best to fix them. Undo the damage as much as possible.
I appreciate your sentiment though, sometimes it can''t be done.

[lmartink]

These two characters, Allen and Senator Stevens are prime examples of the corruption that exists on Wall Street and in Washington D.C.

They are just the tip of the iceberg on this ocean of corruption we are wallowing in.

[smurfcrusher]

I guess this means Palin''s buddy shouldn''t have turned out to be a corrupt creep.

[max0010]

ACORN%u2014why were they getting 20% of the bail-out? Why was that added on to the bill in the beginning?
Stanley Kurtz has a column in the New York Post, but the video makes the point a little more clear. Kurtz tells Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson that the financial collapse started with ACORN and other %u201Ccommunity organizers%u201D pressuring banks to make bad loans. Barack Obama has longstanding ties to ACORN, which Kurtz wants to bring to light. http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/30/video-stanley-kurtz-on-obama-acorn-and-the-cra/

[jeannec3]

Want to make a bet that ACORN will still get a sweet deal out of this second attempt of this Bailout !???

[markinga7]

Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Gonzales, and who else...? Oh yeah, Bush. They should all be on trial for war crimes and abuse of power. Alaska''s just the time of the proverbial (and literal) iceberg.

[jeannec3]

An other Republican Crook going down.
Palin would be next with troopergate! ABUSE OF POWER!!
(republican have setup a puppet judge to get her off.)

This is one way to eliminate all the corrupt republicans.

We are contaminated by two in Navada.
Republicans John Ensign and jon Porter
Bushs Rubber stamps!
Bad for the US and Nevada

Posted by ghm1 at 06:56 PM : Sep 30, 2008
______________________________________________
And Dem. Some on both sides are corrupted. It''s no one man or woman or Rep. or Dem. It''s one of many PEOPLE. Plenty of blame to go around !

[hazelknows]

Wow, I can see it now%u2026%u2026%u2026 he will be found guilty, pardoned by the shrub and then end up as a lobbyist and this would qualify him to work on the McSame campaign.

[kansas1946]

Uh oh. Hmmm..with friends like that, who needs enemies.

[hbevis]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/30/politics/main4489548.shtml

[hbevis]

Don''''t be suprised if this happens...
ACTION ALERT: [supposedly] info from DNC SOURCE NOT VERIFIED
Hi all,
Let me share some info with you that I have gotten from excellent sources
within the DNC:
On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing
health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur
after the VP debate on 10/2.
There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info.
Generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there
to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. I have
already seen a few short blurbs about this - the ''''health problem'''' cited in
those articles was aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same
rumblings.
However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like
this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best
strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in
detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is.
So, et''''s start mixing this one up and cut the Obamites off at the pass -
send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites
and blogs - etc.