VECO Upgraded Stevens’ Girdwood Chalet, Stevens Used Power To Help VECOTestimony Reveals Stevens Was Eager To Accept Gift, Consciously Acted To Give Appearance Of Cover Anchorage, Alaska – Today the jury and Alaskans heard more from former VECO Chief Executive Bill Allen. Allen’s testimony and evidence released by the Department of Justice showed Senator Ted Stevens consciously thought to cover himself from the appearance of gifts, but was always eager to accept gifs and services. Allen’s testimony will continue tomorrow, when the prosecution is expected to release audio recordings. VECO Remodeled Stevens’ Girdwood Chalet. “Allen spent the first part of Wednesday morning testimony talking about his company’s extensive work on Stevens’ house. The work included providing an architect, buying and installing a generator, upgrading the plumbing, additions and renovations to the first floor, installing decking and more. [Allen details work on senator’s Girdwood home, KTUU, 10/1/08] VECO, Not Stevens, Paid The Bills. “Former Veco Corp. CEO Bill Allen, the star witness in the case against Stevens, was asked time and time again: Did Stevens pay for any of the work done by Veco? Did Stevens pay for the electrical work, the plumbing? Did he pay to move the generator? Did he pay for the lower level deck? How about the electrical tape system that melted ice off the roof? ‘Who did that work?’ asked prosecutor Joe Bottini. ‘Veco electricians,’ Allen said. ‘Who paid for the materials?’ Bottini asked. ‘Veco,’ Allen said. Bottini asked whether Stevens ever sought a bill for the work that had been done in 2002. Allen hesitated for a few moments. ‘I don’t think so,’ he said slowly.” [Allen: Veco did work, didn’t bill Stevens, Anchorage Daily News, 10/1/08] Stevens Wanted Gifts From VECO, But Just Wanted The Appearance Of Covering Himself. “A key witness testified on Wednesday that he was told Ted Stevens was “just covering his ass” in asking for bills to pay for extensive renovations that transformed the senator’s chalet in an Alaskan ski town… The Justice Department is also using Allen’s testimony to establish a motive for Stevens’s alleged decision to conceal gifts and home renovations he received from the former oil-industry executive. In October 2002, Stevens sent a handwritten note to Allen asking him for a bill to pay for those renovations, citing strict Senate ethics rules on gift-giving… In the note, Stevens stated that a friend who was helping oversee the renovations, Bob Persons, a local restaurant owner near his home in Girdwood, Alaska, would remind Allen to give the senator a bill for the work. In court on Thursday, Allen said that Persons signaled that the senator only wanted cover by asking for a bill. “Don’t worry about giving a bill, Ted’s just covering his ass,” Allen said Persons told him in 2002.” [Key witness: Stevens sought cover by asking for bills, The Hill, 10/1/08] Stevens’ Thank-You Notes Show He Knew His Home Was Getting An Upgrade. “Prosecutors say the note, one of several thank-you notes introduced into evidence, proves that Stevens knew he was getting free or cut-rate home renovations and intentionally concealed them.” [Contractor: Senator’s request for bill just a ruse, AP, 10/1/08] Stevens Used His Power To Help VECO While They Remodeled His Home. “…Allen revealed that he asked Stevens to use his power as a senior member of Congress to help with a number of public policy issues that Veco was pushing. For instance, on behalf of Allen in 1999, Stevens asked the World Bank to push Pakistan to help pay for the construction of Veco’s oil pipeline in that country. The senator also helped renew a contract Veco had with the National Science Foundation, and met with the State Department to consider training Russian workers to help with a project the company had there.” [Key witness: Stevens sought cover by asking for bills, The Hill, 10/1/08] Looking Ahead At Tomorrow’s Audio Recordings Of Stevens. “Prosecutors plan to play several wiretap recordings to show that Stevens knowingly concealed what they call ‘free benefits,’ which included a ‘sweetheart deal’ on a Land Rover, substantial renovations to his home and other unreported goods and services.” [Senator’s request for bill mere window-dressing, witness says, CNN, 10/1/08] Check out http://RetireTed.com for the latest updates on Stevens’ corruption trial and the Alaska Senate race. # # # |
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