Former Stevens Aide `Tried to Get Story to Go Away’ When Questions First AroseA former press secretary to Sen. Ted Stevens described in court Tuesday a reporter’s inquiry about the Alaska Republican’s acceptance of home improvements that he didn’t fully pay for. “I tried to get the story to go away,” testified Courtney Boone, who had been senator’s press secretary. Boone said she took a reporter’s query directly to Stevens. She characterized him as being shocked by the accusation and then directing her to talk to his wife, Catherine. “He said I would have to talk to Mrs. Stevens about it … because she handled the work that was done on the house,” Boone testified. The press inquiry was in 2004. Boone, who now works for U.S. Steel Corp., said she did not recall which reporter it was, but did recall replying that she did not respond to claims from unnamed sources. Boone also described feeling incredulous. “Seriously, are you kidding?, would have been my reaction,” Boone testified. A former Alaska reporter was due to testify next in the case. 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. Stevens is accused of ailing to report on his U.S. Senate financial disclosure forms gifts that he accepted from VECO and its then-chief executive officer, Bill Allen. |
 |
 |
 |