Week of 8.1.08
Alaska: The Senator and the Oil Man
This Week:
Alaska: The Senator and the Oil Man |
Inside the Scandal |
Big Oil, Big Influence |
Timeline: Alaska Corruption Scandal
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Transcript
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has been indicted for failing to disclose gifts he received from VECO Corporation, an Alaska-based oil services company. But his indictment is only the latest news - and perhaps the tip of the iceberg - in an ongoing political scandal that's rocking the state and Congress.
Video: This week, NOW goes behind the breaking headlines to shine a bright light on the scandalous connection between VECO and Alaska's old-boy political network. Three state legislators have already been convicted in Federal court for accepting bribes from VECO, and the FBI has video and audio evidence that reveal VECO executives shockingly handing out cash to those legislators in exchange for promises to roll back a tax on the oil industry. And more lawmakers - including Senator Stevens' own son, former Alaska State Senate President Ben Stevens - are being eyed in the growing scandal.
NOW continues its ongoing investigation into the bribes, the connections to big oil and the payoffs to obtain friendly tax policies.
Related Links:
Ted Stevens Indictment [pdf]
July 29th Statement of innocence from Ted Stevens
Anchorage Daily News: Alaska Sen. Stevens indicted; 'I am innocent'
Anchorage Daily News: The Alaska political corruption investigation: An overview of the key figures, events and players
Anchorage Daily News: What Stevens and Allen are accused of receiving
The Associated Press: McCain spokeswoman: Stevens' woes linked to 'pork'
The New York Times: A New Generation of Republicans in Alaska
The New York Times: Senator Charged in Scheme to Hide Oil Firm Gifts
The Sunlight Foundation Blog: VECO Contributions