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.

[xlib]

And when this crook gets tossed out sent queen nance with him. Over the past decade queen nance''s pac group gave over 100,000 to HER husband''s real estate investment group. This was a practice that she denounced and made illegal. THis WAS on FOX website but you can do a search for yourself.
Again, it''s the news that isn''t presented here and the sad thing is, you libs don''t seem to care.

[jjp735i]

"Allen....who could summon state lawmakers to his hotel room for drinks and tell them how to vote."

HOW TO VOTE? Why do the people even bother to elect lawmakers? They don''t work for us anymore.

[easeup-2009]

Then how come its always the rePUBIC-CONS who are in the news for being arrested, investigated, caught with child porn or diddling little boys?

Posted by newster1 at 09:43 AM : Oct 01, 2008

They BOTH make news--in fact my county has a huge corruption scandal right now involving Democrats. Google "cuyahoga county russo dimora." I think the Democrats are more corrupt at the local level.

[nothappyatall]

I love it how people think only Republicans take bribes.

How naive can you get?

Posted by easeup

Then how come its always the rePUBIC-CONS who are in the news for being arrested, investigated, caught with child porn or diddling little boys?

[credibility2]

Friends and family turn on other friends and family. That''s life. Too bad associations weren''t curtailed at the time the corruption was setting in. Doesn''t speak much for sound judgment or strong character. Politics is fraught with this sort of thing.

[sleepyric]

Goodbye Ted. you''re screwed.

[easeup-2009]

I love it how people think only Republicans take bribes.

How naive can you get?

[leftyintexas]

True to their core beliefs, once again the Republican party shows the world just how rotten and corrupt this organized band of thugs can be.

[j0hna]

Cheney? - Whos that? Where is Palin?

[jerkytree]

Can you imagine what an 84 year old Senator is doing in Washington? I am serious, common 84 years old means he napps most of the time and collects all the gifts from his buddys. Voters lets get real, 70 is it for these guys so lets vote for term limits and get those do nothing, gamblers and thiefs of the Government payroll.

[jerkytree]

There is but one God and he will deal with Bush, Cheney and the rest when their time is up. We should pray for them because the 10 commandments clearly state: thou shalt not kill, steal or lie and bear false witness. These guys haven''t got a chance.

[mydogdylan6]

Anyone seen CHENEY ???
----------------------
Yah, he''s wearing glasses, lipstick, and talking with a northern accent

[skyk239]

The LACK of leadership was in the Democrat controlled Congress not taking action. McCain brought the bill up, and Pelosi and her court decided not to act on it.

Posted by DemWatcher at 02:50 AM : Oct 01, 2008

Why don''t you explain how the Gramn-Leach-Bliley Act became Law? YOU see folks Dr. Phil, McSame''s economic adviser, allowed the Lobbyist to write a bill for the Banking Industry to ELIMINATE all the Regulations that had been in PLACE since the Great Depression. The LAW and all the Regulations that would have PREVENTED the melt down of the Banking Industry that is before us. I don''t know WHAT this poor fool thinks Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae had to do with that OR the failure of all the rest of the institutions but rest assured McSAME was FOR removal of ALL the Regulations. Now that he''s losing this election and is being called out on his reckless removal of ALL Regulations, after all he called HIMSELF Mr. DEREGULATION, is he attempting to shift focus.

[drinuk]

Anyone seen CHENEY ???

[stn_sage]

The supporters of McCain on this board would be better served NOT to lie for or misrepresent McCain''s words or actions, he doesn''t need your help---he''s doing a pretty good job of that on his own! You only tend to make him look worse by prejudicing undecided voters against him!

These voters look at your antics and ask themselves what sort of demented, nutjobs support this guy?!
It''s not exactly a positive endorsement!

[stn_sage]

A more accurate title for this article might be ''Friend Tells On Senator In Corruption Case''! As written, the title suggests that Allen is unfairly attacking poor, old misunderstood Senator Stevens!

Nothing could be further from the truth!

[demwatcher]

"10 MONTHS after anyone touched the bill, McCain blew the dust off it and cosponsored it. He didn''''t do anything to push it forward, and the bill never saw any more activity in the Senate.

That seems to demonstrate a serious lack of leadership. It also continues the pattern of McCain stretching the truth, distorting the facts and outright lying to get elected. "Journalists" need to do their jobs here. Explode this MYTH. McCain has not stood for deregulation. Google "RICK DAVIS FANNIE MAE". It''''s easy.

vvvv CHECK THIS LINK vvvvvvvv
http://4thoffense.com/mc.html

Posted by wkuinkc at 12:02 AM : Oct 01, 2008"

The LACK of leadership was in the Democrat controlled Congress not taking action. McCain brought the bill up, and Pelosi and her court decided not to act on it.

[timothyone-2009]

One down and thousands to go... Somebody build a gallows, HURRY!!!

[wkuinkc]

MCCAIN DID NOT TRY TO REGULATE FANNIE/FREDDIE. THESE ARE MORE MCCAIN LIES.

2 years ago, McCain BELATEDLY cosponsored this "dead" bill on regulation. He then did nothing else to revive it or bring it back up for consideration.

S.190 - A bill to address the regulation of secondary mortgage market enterprises, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Hagel, Chuck [NE] (introduced 1/26/2005)
Latest Major Action: 7/28/2005 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
--------------
COSPONSORS(3)
Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] - 1/26/2005
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 1/26/2005
...time passes...
7/28/2005 (the date of this bill''s LAST activity)
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 5/25/2006
--------------
10 MONTHS after anyone touched the bill, McCain blew the dust off it and cosponsored it. He didn''t do anything to push it forward, and the bill never saw any more activity in the Senate.

That seems to demonstrate a serious lack of leadership. It also continues the pattern of McCain stretching the truth, distorting the facts and outright lying to get elected. "Journalists" need to do their jobs here. Explode this MYTH. McCain has not stood for deregulation. Google "RICK DAVIS FANNIE MAE". It''s easy.

vvvv CHECK THIS LINK vvvvvvvv
http://4thoffense.com/mc.html

[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.