September 30, 2008

Ted Stevens had pattern of not reporting gifts

Stevens' Tried To Kill Story On Girdwood Remodeling In 2004, Two Years Before FBI Raided His Home

Today the jury and Alaskans heard more about the remodeling Senator Ted Stevens' Girdwood chalet, the sled dog and bronze fish migration statue Stevens received as gifts, and the news story Stevens' former press secretary tried to kill. Former VECO Chief Executive Bill Allen began his testimony today, discussing his friendship with Stevens and the remodeling of the Girdwood chalet:

Stevens Press Secretary Was Asked About Remodel Project Two Years Before FBI Raid. Former Staffer Tried To Kill Story. “‘I tried to get the story to go away,’ testified Courtney Boone, who had been senator’s press secretary… Boone also described feeling incredulous. ‘Seriously, are you kidding?, would have been my reaction,’ Boone testified… Prosecutors entered into evidence a Dec. 3, 2004, e-mail from Boone to Stevens in which Boone recounted a follow-up conversation with Bob Persons, a long-time friend of Stevens who had been entrusted to help look after his Girdwood, Alaska , house when he was in Washington , D.C. In the e-mail, Boone told Stevens that Persons had given her information about VECO’s involvement in a deck construction project at Stevens’ home.” [Former Stevens Aide Tried to Get Story to Go Away When Questions First Arose, CQ, 09/30/08]

The Reporter Dropped Story After Being Told Stevens Secured Credit Line To Pay For Remodeling. “The reporter, Heather Resz, also testified Tuesday. Resz said she pursued the story after receiving a confidential tip. Someone had told her that Stevens had not paid for work done on the home and that VECO may have been involved… Ultimately, Boone put out a joint statement from Stevens and his wife talking about the deck reconstruction and a mortgage that had been taken out to pay for the renovations. The statement did not mention VECO or the company's role in any of the home upgrades. Feeling she had hit a dead end, Resz said she gave up in frustration and dropped the story.” [Former VECO boss testifies in Stevens’ trial, KTUU, 09/30/08]

Stevens Received Other Gifts Too, Including An Iditarod Puppy And Fish Migration Statue. “…A former worker for the Kenai Classic, Jerie Best, said that she handled details for a $1,000 husky sled dog puppy and a giant fish statue that was given to Sen. Stevens. The prosecution earlier in pre-trial proceedings has noted that the statue is valued at $29,000.” [Bill Allen Takes The Stand In Corruption Trial, AK Superstation, 09/30/08]

The Past Three Days Of Testimony Have Showed How Stevens’ Girdwood Chalet Was Remodeled. “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… 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.” [Close friend turns star witness in Stevens trial, AP, 09/30/08]

Bill Allen Began to Detail The Many Gifts He Gave To Stevens, Like A Power Generator. “But Allen also began highlighting a pattern of gift giving that is at the heart of the government case against the senator... Prosecutor Joe Bottini, an assistant U.S. attorney from Anchorage , asked Allen whether Stevens ever paid him back for the estimated $5,000 to $6,000 cost of the backup generator the senator asked Allen to install in 1999, in advance of the Y2K scare. ‘No,’ Allen said. ‘To your knowledge, did he ever pay Veco back for the generator?’ ‘I don't know,’ Allen said. ‘I don't think so.’” [Ex-Veco chief takes stand, describes form friendship with Stevens, McClatchy, 09/30/08]

And A New Car. “Allen also described a complicated 1999 transaction involving a new Land Rover he gave to Stevens in exchange for $5,000 and a 1964 Ford Mustang. Stevens wanted to sell the Mustang and buy his daughter, Lily, a car, Allen said. He offered to give Stevens a $44,000 Land Rover Discovery that he had bought for one of his grandsons but decided not to give him because he was unhappy with him. Stevens estimated the Mustang was worth about $25,000. Allen thought it was worth closer to $15,000 to $20,000. When asked whether he thought he had gotten a good trade, he said, ‘Not at that time, no.’ Then why did you enter the agreement, asked Bottini? ‘Because I liked Ted,’ Allen said.” [Ex-Veco chief takes stand, describes form friendship with Stevens, McClatchy, 09/30/08]

Check out http://RetireTed.com for the latest updates on Stevens’ corruption trial and the Alaska Senate race.

From a Alaska Democratic Party press release