Feds: Thank-You Notes Prove Sen.'s Guilt

(AP)  Federal prosecutors on Wednesday showed jurors thank-you notes that they say prove Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens knew he was getting free home renovations from his friend, an Alaska oil pipeline contractor.

Stevens is on trial for concealing $250,000 in renovations and other gifts on Senate financial forms. The Senate's longest-serving Republican says he believed he was paying for all the work and had no idea he was getting freebies.

In court Wednesday, prosecutors displayed a handwritten note and an e-mail Stevens sent to Bill Allen, the founder of pipeline giant VECO Corp.

"You continue to amaze me, the way you can keep so many balls in the air at one time," Stevens wrote in an August 2000 note. "It was great to see you at the Bogart movie and I thank you for all that you are doing on the house."

In a lengthier e-mail a month later, Stevens praised the VECO worker overseeing the job.

While the notes bolster the government's case, they are not a smoking gun. Stevens acknowledges that, because he was working in Washington, he asked Allen to oversee the project. But Stevens says he was adamant that he pay all the bills and had no idea Allen was paying much of the costs himself.

The notes also discuss home financing, bolstering Stevens' argument that he intended to pay for the project. And they support Stevens' claim that his wife, Catherine, was the driving force behind the project that transformed the small cabin into a two-story home with a garage, sauna, wine cellar and wraparound porches.

"I've got to tell you, in the long haul I can live and be happy anywhere," Stevens wrote Allen, adding that his wife wanted to put her touch on the house. "You know the ladies."

The senator's longtime fishing and drinking buddy, Allen testified Wednesday that VECO workers did electrical and construction work, installed a rooftop heating system and other projects.

"Who paid for that?" prosecutor Joseph Bottini asked.

"VECO," Allen replied.

Stevens, 84, said he had no idea exactly what was being done or who was doing it because his wife reviewed and paid all the bills. The couple paid $160,000 for the renovations and Stevens says they assumed that covered everything.

[caldwellptr]

Dear Posted by nvhorseman at 12:13 PM : Oct 02, 2008

You are talking about an America in the past. When Congress issues you a suboena and you can ignore it, then eventually when the flashing red lights pull behind you and want to issue you a speeding ticket, they loose all authority to do so.

[synchrochick]

Does no one remember Nixon/Ford and Watergate? Or Reagan and Iran-contra, HUD scandal, Lobbying Scandal, Deregulation that led to the Savings and Loan Scandal which cost the taxpayer 160 billion at the time (what did the taxpayer get for that debacle? Bush SR.?) Then Bush Sr. and his war in Iraq for oil, which set us up for where we are at now? Since 1969 Dems have had 2 presidents. Come on, look has been in charge for 40 years, how can you blame the Dems, they haven''''t been in power anywhere near as long, and they have FAR Far fewer scandals as a whole party. indianaman13 at 12:01 PM

You raise an interesting point, indianaman13. To answer your questions, no. I don''t. I''ve heard of them, but I''m too young to actually remember them and I''m 31. Unless a person is really interested, it''s far too easy to forget something that you haven''t lived. We have a generation of voters to whom Nixon is mostly just another word on a page than someone who generates any strong feelings or sentiments. I''m not saying this is good or bad. It just...is.

[blackyowe]

Alaska is like the old south its Bubba land! Palin is the White Trash Queen of Bubba land!

[drputt45]

No mention here about Biden''s deals on vacation homes and spending campaign cash on his house and train rides. Plenty of crooked deals going around.

[indianaman13]

Does no one remember Nixon/Ford and Watergate? Or Reagan and Iran-contra, HUD scandal, Lobbying Scandal, Deregulation that led to the Savings and Loan Scandal which cost the taxpayer 160 billion at the time (what did the taxpayer get for that debacle? Bush SR.?) Then Bush Sr. and his war in Iraq for oil, which set us up for where we are at now? Since 1969 Dems have had 2 presidents. Come on, look has been in charge for 40 years, how can you blame the Dems, they haven''t been in power anywhere near as long, and they have FAR Far fewer scandals as a whole party.

[xlib]

david-God I love when you libs and your media uses the term "troopergate". It takes me back to the good old 90''s. Of course, the original troopergate was a heck of a lot juicer than this one. This one is kinda boring.

[xlib]

Nancy-The point that was obviously missed on you is that there isn''t one word about queen nance and her misdeeds. That''s the point that is always missed by you libs. THis is also an issue that your side campaigned on to win in 2006. That and ending the war. So, I guess this doesn''t bother you at all does it??
You libs should wonder why there is never any coverage of the cr*p your guys do. Not one word.
So, you missed my point so just bally up to the koolaid vat and stay naive.
That''s what the queen nance story has to do with stevens.

[babooph]

250,000$ theft! -can I have the same deal he is going to get -slap on the wrist & keep the stolen gain?

[brianbwb-2009]

On a topic not being covered on CBS, (but it is here in Singapore) it seems 20 people have died consuming tainted deli meat in Canada.

We all know Stevens is a corrupt politician, this is not news.

Please CBS, cover the story about the canadian tainted deli meat deaths, so we can know where the meat came from, what kind of taint caused so many to die, etc.

[babooph]

The requirement for public service must include a complete lack of morality & devotion to religion- they go together so well.Just the opposite of what the propganda system sells us.