J. Frank Prewitt's Last Bridge to Nowhere

Excerpt Two - Frank Murkowski, Lesil McGuire, and federal prisoner Tommy Anderson

"Last Bridge To Nowhere is a disturbingly humorous tale that exposes the underside of power politics, offering thoughtful observations on character, responsibility and public trust. But the pages turn more like a season special of Desperate Housewives Go To Washington: political intrigue and provocative crime, tossed and served in a delicious wrap of irreverence."

Former FBI "Confidential Source" J. Frank Prewitt's book is based on hundreds of hours of undercover meetings with perps and other persons of interest to the FBI, conversations with agents and attorneys in the U.S. Department of Justice, secret recordings, transcripts and public records.

 Murkowski was elected governor of Alaska on November 5, 2002, by overwhelming mandate. His popularity headed downhill immediately after he appointed his daughter, Lisa Murkowski, to fill his seat in the United States Senate. No one really questioned Murkowski's hanging on to the senate seat while running for governor because most Alaskans understood the value of congressional seniority: If he lost the race for governor, he would simply go back to his Energy Chair and continue shoveling pork and favors to Alaska. Not that he was that good at it.

Other than twenty unremarkable years riding U.S. Senator Ted Stevens' coattails, about the most memorable pork Murkowski delivered was stopping the U.S. Forest Service from closing the outhouses at Turnagain Pass, a scenic road that leads from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. In a press release saying, "I'm not going to take this sitting down", Murkowski urged the Forest Service to "flush out their pending ROS and push hard to find a solution." After the Forest Service agreed to leave the restrooms open, a relieved Murkowski said, "I'm delighted that the agency was able to wipe away any public discomfort." In spite of his less than remarkable congressional record, no one dreamed Governor Murkowski's first executive act would be to bypass customary process and appoint his own daughter to a seat in the United States Senate, particularly when, only four months earlier, she had narrowly defeated a fellow Republican challenge to her own unremarkable two terms in the Alaska House by mere fifty seven votes.

Blatant nepotism, ethically challenged appointees, a private jet purchased with overwhelming public and legislative disapproval, slicing aid to elderly Alaskans, and introducing a bill to strip pension and medical benefits from state employees eventually took a toll on the governor's popularity. While some just chalk it up to breathtaking, mule-headed arrogance, by 2005 ol' Murky just didn't sit well with seventy three percent of the population. So, to most Alaskans, the prospect of Frank Murkowski negotiating an acceptable, untainted deal with the oil companies was a fantasy. But as Murkowski's popularity plummeted, VECO Bill Allen kept reminding his executive staff, "So long as ol' Murky gits us ar deal, ta hy'ell what people think of 'im."

In spite of the gas line, the 2005 legislative session wasn't a total bust for the government. I was given the opportunity to wine and dine Representatives (Vic) Kohring, Anderson, and (Lesil) McGuire and gleaned some insight, as well as some extraordinary sound and footage (by that time I was pretty good at espio-tech) implicating Kohring and exculpating McGuire. For Representative McGuire, the issue was whether she knew Tommy (Representative Anderson) was selling her votes to the highest bidder. So, in mid-February, we dined together in the Gold Room of the Baranof Hotel. Three hours, one visibly nervous Anderson and three bottles of wine later (while McGuire engaged a passing admirer in a sidebar conversation) Tommy leaned in my direction and whispered, "Frank, uh, she doesn't know about our deal, so, you know what I mean?" I interrupted, put my hand on Tom's arm, leaned in for a close-up and assured him I understood.

Much later that night a sleepy Kepner picked up. "Geez, Patient, how am I supposed to explain filet mignon, flaming fresh spotted shrimp, stuffed fresh Prince William Sound oysters, three bottles of vinter's choice, dessert, and cognac chasers! I told her truth and justice come at a high price and to stop whining, her SAC would understand. Besides, we now had evidence that Lesil McGuire wasn't corrupt, she just had a weakness for low-hanging fruit. 

Excerpt's

• First excerpt - Don Young meets the FBI

• Third excerpt - Frank Murkowski's dirty deal and Ben Stevens as Bill Allen's vice-president

The book will be available in local Alaska stores September 15. The book's website is lastbridgetonowhere.com

Frank Prewitt served as an Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner under Alaska Governors Bill Sheffield, Steve Cowper, and Walter Hickel.

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