FBI Searches 6 Alaska Lawmakers' Offices

[DoYouEverWonder]

August 31, 2006

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Federal agents raided the offices of at least six Alaska lawmakers Thursday in an investigation of large oil field services company, officials said.

The company named in the search warrant was VECO Corp., an Anchorage-based oil field services and construction company, said Tam Cook, the Legislature's top attorney. VECO's executives are major contributors to political campaigns.

"This morning, investigators from the FBI interviewed me in my office regarding an investigation of VECO," Republican Rep. Vic Kohring said in a statement. He said he cooperated, and was told he was not a target of the investigation.

Two legislative aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from federal agents who told them not to talk to reporters, said FBI agents were looking for any ties including financial information and gifts.

One aide who did not view the warrant directly but was told its contents by officials said it allowed for the search of computer files, personal diaries and other documentation.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-alaska-lawmakers-fbi-raid,0,7605984.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[aquart]

1. Legal daylight warrants?

How unusual.

[bobthedrummer]

2. Possibly related to BP

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=111&sid=880176

[NVMojo]

3. gee, wonder if Senator Ted "pork barrell" Stevens has a role in this?

[harpboy_ak]

5. Ted' son Ben is involved.

He had already decided not to run for re-election because his ethical lapses irritated so many voters and he had strong Repug challengers. He's President of the Alaska Senate.

Google for "Ben Stevens" and "APOC" to see what this is probably about...

www.google.com/search?q=%22Ben+Stevens%22+APOC&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

[yellowcanine]

17. Is that the same as Ted "The internet is tubes!" Stevens?

[Tinksrival]

4. Here is another link:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14608601/

snip>>>>>>>>

Two legislative aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from federal agents who told them not to talk to reporters, said FBI agents were looking for any ties including financial information and gifts.

One aide said agents did not show him the warrant but said officials described what was in it. He said the warrant allowed for the search of computer files, personal diaries and other documentation: "It pretty much covered the gamut."

snip>>

Sen. John Cowdery, R-Anchorage, the Senate Rules Committee chairman. The senator stood by in Anchorage as authorities sifted through documentation.

Blinds drawn, doors closed
The offices of Senate President Ben Stevens, R-Anchorage; Kohring; Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau; Sen. Donald Olson, D-Nome; and Rep. Pete Kott, R-Eagle River also were searched.

snip>>>>

Veco is an Alaska oil field services and construction company whose executives are major contributors to political campaigns, usually Republicans.

end of snip>>>>>>>>

[Judi Lynn]

6. FBI searches 6 Alaska lawmakers' offices

Aug. 31, 2006, 11:33PM
FBI searches 6 Alaska lawmakers' offices

By MATT VOLZ Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska — Federal agents raided the offices of at least six Alaska lawmakers Thursday in an investigation of large oil field services company, officials said.

The company named in the search warrant was VECO Corp., an Anchorage-based oil field services and construction company, said Tam Cook, the Legislature's top attorney. VECO's executives are major contributors to political campaigns.

"This morning, investigators from the FBI interviewed me in my office regarding an investigation of VECO," Republican Rep. Vic Kohring said in a statement. He said he cooperated, and was told he was not a target of the investigation.

Two legislative aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from federal agents who told them not to talk to reporters, said FBI agents were looking for any ties including financial information and gifts.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4156290.html

[harpboy_ak]

7. Of course, it's Totally Tubular Ted's kid!

State Senate President Ben Stevens, son of US Sen. "Tubular" Ted Stevens (R-BigOil) managed to irritated so many voters by his numerous ethical lapses, that he decided to not run for re-election because of his lousy poll numbers. It's not surprising the merde finally hit the ventilateur.

Maybe this is why Senator Ted was so pissed off last week when Gonzales appointed a new acting US Attorney for Anchorage without consulting him?

[Judi Lynn]

8. Oh, my God! I just found his photo.He looks just like his nasty little dad

Totally Tubular Ted




and the Kid!



It's such bad news learning the little prince thinks more of himself than the voters of Alaska do! What a pity.

Does it look as if he may be washed up? What a creepy family. Just like the Murkowskis.

[LunaSea]

9. Jeez, last time I saw a noggin like that..

it was on the Outer Limits.
Or was it This Island Earth?
let me guess, they're originally from France....

[Justitia]

14. Egads. Weasel features are encoded in their genetic material. -eom

[Justitia]

13. LOL - "Totally Tubular Ted" - LMAO! -eom

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. I was wondering if there was a connection

I didn't dream it would be that direct. OMG? :rofl:

[Broken_Hero]

10. Good put the heat on them

those Alaskan politicians are probably drinking pepto bismal by the liters by now...:)

[radfringe]

11. why did they even bother with warrants?

according to bush we don't need no stinkin' warrants

[goforit]

12. LOL!!! The FBI always searches and siezes but never are heard of again

over their investigations.
It's blatantly evident they are raiders for the Bush/Cheney Junta
and have no desire to start an investigation on anything.
They just gather information for their bosses and threaten their
victims and off they go to next poor sap on their list.

[WhiteTara]

16. big kick in the teeth to Ted Stevens!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[KamaAina]

18. Totally Tubular Ted may yet be directly involved

FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez said the FBI and Internal Revenue Service executed search warrants in Anchorage, Juneau, Wasilla, Eagle River and Girdwood, but he would not say who was served search warrants.

And where does Totally Tubular Ted live? You might well ask...

http://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Ted_Stevens#Family

Stevens' current home in Alaska is in Girdwood.

Like, tubular, dude!

[Judi Lynn]

19. FBI Probes Office of Sen. Stevens' Son

FBI Probes Office of Sen. Stevens' Son
Friday September 1, 2006 9:01 PM
By MATT VOLZ
Associated Press Writer

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The offices of at least six Alaska legislators, including the son of Sen. Ted Stevens, were raided by federal agents searching for possible ties between the lawmakers and a large oil field services company, officials and aides said.

Department of Justice spokeswoman Jaclyn Lesch said Friday the searches began Thursday and were continuing Friday. FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez said a total of 20 search warrants were being executed across Alaska, but would not say where.

A copy of one of the search warrants, obtained by The Associated Press, links the investigation to a new production tax law signed last month by Gov. Frank Murkowski and a draft natural gas pipeline contract Murkowski and the state's three largest oil companies negotiated.

The warrant called for seizure of documents concerning any payment made to lawmakers by Bill Allen and Richard Smith, executives of oil field services giant VECO Corp. Agents also looked for documents about contracts, agreements or employment of legislators provided by VECO, Allen, Smith and company president Peter Leathard.

Sought-after items named in the search include hats or other garments bearing the phrases ``CBC,'' ``Corrupt Bastards Club'' or ``Corrupt Bastards Caucus.'' What the names referred to was unclear, and authorities would not comment.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6052975,00.html

[Kingshakabobo]

20. ``Corrupt Bastards Caucus.'' WTF?

If this is what I think it is, it reminds me of an old Chicago court scandal where some of the attorneys had vanity license plates with abbreviations flaunting what they were doing. It had something to do with "plead not guilty waive jury trial" so they would have direct access to the crooked judge and his decision that they bought. I guess it sounded like a good idea at the time.