Stevens' Pals Plotted To Hide Free Work

Jurors In Alaska Senator's Corruption Trial Hear FBI Recordings Of Conversations

(AP)  Two close friends of Sen. Ted Stevens schemed to conceal the fact that one was paying for extensive work done at the senator's cabin in Alaska, according to FBI audiotapes played Tuesday at Stevens' corruption trial.

The pair, Bill Allen and Bob Persons, are heard on tape fretting in February 2006 over a plumbing bill that says, "Labor paid for by Bill," after Stevens contacted them about the job.

"We need to make that disappear from (the plumber's) records," Persons says in one conversation captured by an FBI wiretap of Allen's phones. "Tell him Ted's paying for everything. I mean, that's the safest thing, Bill."

Allen, the government's star witness, and Persons, a neighbor who helped oversee the cabin remodel, agree that Allen should get a check from Stevens for the work. But they also decide that instead of cashing it, it should be photocopied and saved in case the senator was ever investigated for ethics violations.

"If it ever comes up, you say, 'Bull----. He paid me for that," Persons says.

Stevens, 84, is accused of lying on Senate financial disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in home renovations and gifts from Allen, the former chief of an oil pipeline company. The patriarch of Alaska politics hopes to clear his name with an acquittal before voters go to the polls next month to decide whether to return him to the Senate seat he's held for 40 years.

Allen concluded his testimony on Tuesday after spending nearly four days on the witness stand detailing a relationship with Stevens that spanned two decades. Prosecutors used Allen to attack Stevens' claim that he was clueless about the extent of free work that Allen and his company, VECO Corp., did on the cabin.

Before he left the stand, Allen quoted Stevens as saying during one of their many dinners together, "I know you're putting more work in there than what you're saying."

Allen testified as part of a plea deal in a bribery investigation of Alaska legislators. On cross-examination Tuesday, he testified that in addition to possible leniency at his sentencing, Allen has millions of dollars riding on his cooperation.

Under the terms of a $380 million sale last year of VECO, the buyer was allowed to withhold $70 million until able to determine whether Allen's cooperation helps deflect criminal charges against the company itself.

Jurors on Monday heard conversations - secretly recorded by Allen - where Stevens proclaimed his innocence while advising Allen to keep a low profile during the FBI investigation.

"I don't think we've done anything wrong, Bill," Stevens said on the tape. "I tell you right now, I've told my lawyer I can't think of a thing we've done that's wrong."

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said he would hold a hearing Wednesday on repeated defense claims that prosecutors intentionally withheld evidence favorable to their client.

In a late Monday night filing, prosecutors said they had done nothing wrong and called the defense claims "the latest salvo in their effort to derail the trial."

[indianaman13]

Oh my, about time America wakes up to what Republicans are. Nixon/Ford had watergate, Reagan had the Savings and Loan scandal, caused by Rep deregulation, causing the taxpayer to bay 160 billion. Reagan also had the FDA scandal with Rumsfield, EPA scandal, HUD scandal, Lobbyist scandal, Iran-Contra scandal. Wow. Then Bush Sr and his war in Iraq for oil. Jr got in and look, Rep deregulation once again led to causing the taxpayer, this time its 700 billion and tanking the whole world economy. Since the 60''s, Dems have had 2 presidents in over 40 years, while Rep have had 5. Come on, who do you think is really responsible for whats going on? Actions speak louder than words, look at how Republicans have acted?

[tallyman2008]

Cabin-Gate

Trooper-Gate

Lot going on in Alaska these days.

And for such a small population.

Sure seems curious.

Wonder who else has been ''pal-ing around'' with who ?

[babooph]

All knew to hide it,none knew it was happening-If I told the court that I would get a long sentence in a REAL prison !!

[irmcvet97]

And pelosi''''s pac hid giving over 100,000 to her hubby''''s investment and real estate company.
And charlie rangel "didn''''t know" he had to pay taxes on his vacation home even though he''''s the chair of the HOuse Ways and Means Committee that writes the tax law. ANd, he didn''''t know he shouln''''t use 4 low rent houses in Harlem for his own use.
So, got room for two more hangings??

Posted by Xlib at 07:24 AM : Oct 08, 2008


What are you babbling about? The more obvious the Republican Corruption becomes the worse you sheep sound. LOL

[xlib]

And pelosi''s pac hid giving over 100,000 to her hubby''s investment and real estate company.
And charlie rangel "didn''t know" he had to pay taxes on his vacation home even though he''s the chair of the HOuse Ways and Means Committee that writes the tax law. ANd, he didn''t know he shouln''t use 4 low rent houses in Harlem for his own use.
So, got room for two more hangings??

[burneb]

Isn''t it interesting how so many Congressmen and corporate execs who claim to be so knowledgeable and competent (justifying their election, or their super salaries & percs), never seem to know anything about what''s going on around them when testifying?

[bm6005]

Sorry;

Start the hanging(s) with this SOB!!

[bm6005]

Star the hangings with this SOB!!!

[hsinco-2009]

(sigh)
America has died.

Posted by nextGenMan at 07:57 PM : Oct 07, 2008

Thanks to the Repugs! Rotten to the core!

[nextgenman]

(sigh)
America has died.