Sen. Stevens got $2.7 million for pal’s roadJust 0.7 miles long, Crow Creek Road isn’t a road to nowhere. It runs straight to the Double Musky Inn, a Cajun bistro owned by a Bob Persons, a close friend of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. It cost taxpayers $2.7 million to widen and pave that road, and Alaska had higher priorities. But an Associated Press examination of government e-mails and interviews with state transportation officials found that Stevens moved the project to the front of the line. Persons, owner of the popular watering hole where the Republican senator frequently dines, testified as a defense witness this month in Washington, D.C., where Stevens is on trial for corruption. Stevens Took Campaign Contributions From Saddam Hussein LobbyistSenator Ted Stevens has accepted $5,000 in campaign contributions from a man who lobbied on behalf of Saddam Hussein during a period when Iraq was considered a rogue enemy state and a sponsor of terrorism. William Timmons, a Washington, D.C. lobbyist, worked on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime. Timmons worked with two other lobbyists who were found guilty of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein’s government. The Alaska Democratic Party today demanded that Stevens return the tainted donations from Timmons. NBC News covers Stevens trial and the Senate raceWhen It Comes To The Wall Street Mess, Stevens Is Part Of The ProblemWhile headlines across the country highlight the troubles of Wall Street and the economy, Senator Ted Stevens is sitting in a federal courtroom and hoping his expensive D.C. lawyers can bail him out of his seven federal felony corruption charges. The United States is facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Yet Stevens, who has been close to Wall Street firms for years, is part of the problem. While taking money from Wall Street corporations, Stevens opposed any meaningful Wall Street oversight or accountability. It’s clear Stevens has lost touch with Alaskans and their needs. Alaska families are struggled to pay their energy bills, health care bills, and put food on the table. It’s no secret that Stevens has been cozy with Wall Street for years, but it’s just wrong that Alaskans have to pay the price. In rare exchange with reporters, Palin avoids endorsing Sen. Ted Stevens’ political futureRepublican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, in a rare exchange with reporters, declined Thursday to endorse the candidacy of indicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. Opening arguments began Thursday in Stevens’ corruption trial. The longest-serving Republican in the Senate faces seven counts of making false statements stemming from allegations that he concealed gifts on Senate financial documents. In spite of the charges, he is running for re-election to retain the seat he has held since 1968. When a reporter asked Palin, Alaska’s governor, if she supports the re-election of Stevens, she replied: “Ted Stevens’ trial started a couple of days ago. We’ll see where that goes.” In a first, Palin takes press questionsSarah Palin fielded four questions from a small group of reporters Thursday after touring several Sept. 11-related sites, articulating a forceful approach to the war on terror but offering mostly evasive answers to specific questions. She also wouldn’t say whether she supports the reelection bids of embattled Alaska Republicans Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young. “Ted Stevens’ trial started a couple days ago. We’ll see where that goes,” she told reporters in what amounted to her first press conference since accepting the Republican vice presidential nomination. She ignored a follow-up question on whether she would vote for Stevens and Young… Palin yet to offer political endorsementsGov. Sarah Palin has been silent on whether she will support fellow Republicans Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young come November. Unanswered Question Watch, Day 14: Are McCain-Palin Endorsing Sen. Ted Stevens’ Re-election?Stevens Helped Lay Groundwork For Current Financial CrisisHeadlines across the country highlight the troubles of Wall Street and the economy, yet Senator Ted Stevens has been close to Wall Street firms for years. While taking money from Wall Street corporations, Stevens opposed any meaningful Wall Street oversight or accountability. Stevens supported the Financial Modernization Act of 1999, which is largely responsible for the current Wall Street crisis. Young and Stevens trail in Kos pollAlaska Republicans need to kick things up a notch in order to win in November, according to the latest poll results released Thursday by Research 2000 for Daily Kos. The poll showed indicted GOP Sen. Ted Stevens trailing Democratic challenger Mark Begich 50-44 and embattled GOP Rep. Don Young lagging behind Democrat Ethan Berkowitz by 13 percentage points, 52-39. A Dual Fight for StevensEmbattled Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska goes on trial tomorrow in a historic public corruption case, bucking conventional legal wisdom in the hope of winning acquittal in time to be reelected to a seventh full term. The first sitting senator to face a federal trial in more than two decades, Stevens, an 84-year-old Republican icon of both the Senate and his home state, was indicted eight weeks ago on charges that he failed to disclose lavish gifts he received from executives of an oil services company. If convicted, Stevens could face prison time, his 40-year Senate career would meet an ignominious end, and Republicans would probably lose a normally reliable Senate seat. As Stevens Heads To Trial For Corruption, What Did VECO Get?As jury selection is set to begin on Monday in the seven felony count case against Senator Ted Stevens in relation to accepting illegal gifts, the Alaska Democratic Party issued a new report documenting what exactly VECO got. Yesterday, the judge in Stevens’ federal trial ruled against Stevens’ motion to restrict evidence having to do with VECO. Since 2000, Stevens has helped VECO and its subsidiaries receive more than $95 million for a total of 190 federal contracts. More than 90 percent of VECO’s federal contracts went to projects outside of Alaska. These federal dollars are in addition to other favors and political influence Stevens used to aid VECO. Stevens’ Ads Violate Federal Communications Commission And Federal Election Commission Disclaimer LawsThe Alaska Democratic Party today called on television stations throughout Alaska to take down new ads by Senator Ted Stevens which violate both federal election and communications law. Stevens’ two ads violate Federal Communications Commission (FCC) disclaimer requirements. The Alaska Democratic Party will file an official complaint tomorrow with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Stevens’ Senate campaign. Stevens’ campaign could be fined by the FEC based on the size of the buy. Stevens loses bid to throw his case out of courtLawyers for the Alaska Republican tried but failed Wednesday to have the case thrown out on grounds it is unconstitutional and that some counts in the indictment were outside the statute of limitations. Stevens, 84, faces seven felony counts alleging he knowingly took home repairs and gifts worth more than $250,000 from the oil services company Veco Corp. and failed to report them on his annual U.S. Senate disclosure forms. Judge refuses to throw out Stevens caseThe federal judge overseeing the corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens refused his lawyers’ requests Wednesday to throw out the case and indicated a flurry of last-minute legal motions and inquiries won’t stop the trial from beginning this month. Judge Rejects Stevens’ Frivolous Motions And Delay TacticsU.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan today ruled against several frivolous motions filed by Senator Ted Stevens in his seven felony count case related to his accepting illegal gifts. The ruling is a blow to Stevens’ attempts over the past month to dismiss the case without an explanation to voters. Pending further motions, the trial is expected to start on September 22 with jury selection. CREW names the 20 most corrupt members of Congress and four to watchCREW’s Most Corrupt Members of Congress provides a detailed analysis of the unethical and sometimes illegal activities of 24 congressmen and women who have most egregiously betrayed the public’s trust. CREW also has launched the report’s tandem website, www.CREWsMostCorrupt.org, which offers short summaries of each member’s transgressions as well as the full-length profiles and all accompanying exhibits. Stevens Tries To Complicate What His Defense Calls A “Simple Case” To Delay “Speedy” TrialOn Wednesday, the U.S. District Court will rule on motions file in the seven felony count case related to accepting illegal gifts against Senator Ted Stevens. After Stevens’ indictment, his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, said that, “He’d like to clear his name before the election,” adding that, “This is not a complex case. It should be one that moves quickly.” The Many Ways Special Interests Give To Stevens - And The List Keeps GrowingMany worry that special interests have taken over Washington, DC. Whether it’s Congress or the White House, voters want their elected officials to be independent, thinking of their constituents first. But with the many ways special interest can give to Senator Ted Stevens, some wonder how independent he is. Stevens has been quick to exploit special interest loopholes to take unlimited and anonymous donations that require no disclosure from corporations and lobbyists. Lobbying Firm Raises Funds For StevensSix years ago, a lobbying firm representing more than a dozen defense companies that were seeking appropriations earmarks opened an unusual side business: The lobbyists hired someone to provide campaign fundraising and PAC management services to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who at the time was ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Palin mum on endorsing StevensThe indictment has put Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) running mate in a tricky position. If Palin endorses Stevens, it will appear that she is undermining her message of taking on the GOP establishment and cleaning up corruption in her state. But should the popular governor oppose his reelection, it could deliver a blow to Stevens’s campaign and give Democrats ammunition as they try to pick up one more Senate seat. Stevens Not So Confident He Can Prove His Innocence Before ElectionThis week in a motion filed by the Department of Justice, federal prosecutors accused Senator Ted Stevens of tactics to delay his “speedy” trial. Stevens’ defense team requested an accelerated trial schedule to be completed before Election Day in November. But since the indictment, Stevens’ lawyers have filed eight motions, asked for the ability to file motions after the deadline and throughout the trail, and have yet to produce the required exhibit and witness list. Clearly, Stevens’ new election strategy is to delay the trial. Survey floats Senate replacementsAlaska Democrats charged Thursday that an Oregon-based phone survey company was engaging in shady push polling that appeared designed to encourage a vote for Sen. Ted Stevens, but also floated the names of possible replacements for the indicted senator in the November general election. That’s Not Waffling You Can Believe InOne of the more foolish talking points the McCain campaign has come up with in defense of Sarah Palin is the notion that she’s clashed with Alaskan Sen. Ted Stevens (R). As the story goes, Stevens is corrupt (he’s currently under indictment), and Palin’s willingness to stand up to him, despite his power in Alaska, is proof of her strong willed independence. Talking points help keep GOP on messageThe one-page “Republican National Convention Talking Points” sheet provided to them added: “No one is better suited to deal with the largest issue on voters minds: Energy.” If reporters asked about indicted Sen. Ted Stevens, it advised the delegates: “As long as he does not receive jail time, he is legally capable of serving.” |
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