The indictment handed down today in the federal case against Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK): Click Here

Stevens was indicted on seven federal counts, all of which relate to the omission in his financial disclosure statements “things of value” he received from 2000-2006.  Much of what Stevens received came in the form of materials and labor for the renovations of his personal home in Girdwood, Alaska.  These renovations were largely paid for by VECO Corporation and coordinated by then-CEO Bill Allen.  Allen pled guilty in 2007 to charges related to bribing of Alaska legislators—including Ben Stevens, son of the Senator—in an attempt to win passage of favorable oil tax provisions. In addition to these renovations, Stevens also received various pieces of furniture, a professional Viking grill, and a beneficial vehicle exchange, in which Stevens received a 1999 Land Rover worth $44,000 in exchange for a 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang (worth less than $20,000) and $5,000 in cash. According to the indictment, during the period in which he concealed what he received from VECO, Stevens also “received and accepted solicitations for multiple official actions from ALLEN and other VECO employees, and knowing that STEVENS could and did use his official position and his office on behalf of VECO during that same time period.” (page 5) (emphasis added) The best documented example of what VECO and Allen received from Stevens involves $170 million worth of contracts from the National Science Foundation in 1999 and then again in 2004 to a VECO subsidiary to provide logistics and support for polar research.  Prior to this award, VECO had no experience in this area.  In addition to this award, the indictment also states that Stevens, sometimes directly, made solicitations for official action related to international VECO projects in Pakistan and Russia, assistance on federal and state issues related to the proposed construction of a gas pipeline, and additional grants and contacts to benefit VECO and its subsidiaries.

The Renovations

• Stevens did not receive just a “sprucing up” of his personal home in Girdwood, Alaska, but a nearly complete overhaul.  Among the renovations paid for by VECO:
  • 2000-2001: Stevens’ home was jacked up and placed on stilts and a new first floor was constructed, with two bedrooms and a bathroom.  A new garage with workshop and second-story wraparound deck were also added.
  • 2002: A first-story wraparound deck was added at this time, along with a heat tape system on the roof and some other smaller changes.
  • 2004-2005: VECO paid for installation of multiple kitchen appliances and maintenance of the heat tape system on the roof.
  • 2006: Stevens contacted Allen directly and requested to have his boiler and heating system inspected and repaired.  When the work was complete, Allen requested that the invoice be divided between materials, which Stevens paid for, and labor, which Allen paid for.

• The indictment also spells out Stevens’ direct involvement in the renovations, including his correspondence with Allen, his presence while some of the work was conducted, and his review of and comment on some of the plans drawn up for the renovations.