Self-Named Corrupt Bastards Under Investigation

FBI agents took 12 boxes of documents labeled “Evidence” from Ben Stevens’ legislative offices during raids in August 2006. Specific items named in the FBI search for seizure included garments bearing the logos or phrases: ‘CBC,’ ‘Corrupt Bastards Club,’ ‘Corrupt Bastards Caucus,’ ‘VECO.’” [FBI Raids Offices of 6 Alaska Legislators, Washington Post, 9/2/2006]

The inquiry, under way in secret at least since 2004, surfaced on Aug. 31, 2006, when scores of federal agents served search warrants at more than 20 locations around Alaska, including the offices of six state legislators. At the center of the investigation are the chief executive and a vice president of the Alaska-based oil field services company Veco, now defunct. Both men have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with investigators.

Of the eleven targets of the Department of Justice investigation, four have been found guilty, former Rep. Vic Kohring, former Rep. Pete Kott, former Rep. Tom Anderson and former lobbyist Bill Bobrick; three away sentencing, Veco executives Bill Allen, Rick Smith and former Gov. Murkowski’s chief of staff, Jim Clark; and four await trial, Ben Stevens’ father, US Sen. Ted Stevens, former Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, former Rep. John Cowdery and private prison advocate Bill Weimar. [The political corruption investigation at a glance, Anchorage Daily News, 8/12/2008; Stevens indicted; 'I am innocent', Anchorage Daily News, 8/30/2008]

In his plea agreement, Veco executive Bill Allen admitted making improper payments of $243,250 to “State Senator B” — an unmistakable reference to Ben Stevens, the former state Senate president. Ben Stevens’ office was searched in the August 2006 raids and was later visited again by FBI agents seeking information about his fishery interests and benefits he may have received from legislation written by his father. He was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars as a consultant for various commercial fishing companies and groups, and chaired a federally funded panel, created in an earmark by his father, that awarded grants to some of those entities. [The Alaska political corruption investigations, Anchorage Daily News, 8/5/2007]

See also: Republican Corruption Scandal Engulfs Alaska » Another Alaska indictment: ADN asks what about “U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, his son Ben, and U.S. Rep. Don Young?” » Consulting fees paid to Stevens’ son questioned » Ben Stevens faces maximum fine » With Another Indictment, Time To Take A Look Back At Alaska’s Corruption Scandal »