Stevens' close friend turns star witness / LJWorld.com

Archive for Wednesday, October 1, 2008

October 1, 2008

Washington — 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.

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2 October 2008
at 2:58 a.m.

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Kropotkin (Anonymous) says…

VECO, Bill Allen's half billion dollar corporation, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in laundered political contributions, besides all the under the table money that he and his former V.P., Rick Smith, have admitted, under oath, to bribing legislators with.They had such contempt for the legislators they bribed, one dropped loose bills on the floor so the member had to crawl to pick it up. About another, Bill said, “We own his ass!” The feds got all this on videotape. They paid off Stevens' son Ben hugely, as well, cash money, they confessed.These same characters illegally laundered over 10% of all the contributions for Sarah Palin that she received for her unsucessful race for AK Lt. Governor in 2002. She lost with 21% of the vote. She hasn't given a penny back or donated it to charity. Some of her closest legislative allies, such as Rep. Vic Kohring, also from Wasilla, are now doing time. She has claimed a hand in cleaning up the widespread statewide corruption when her administration has had absolutely nothing to do with it.