Another Alaska Republican Covered In Scandal

Yesterday, a federal indictment was handed down against another Alaskan Republican state lawmaker--another black eye for Alaska Republicans running for re-election this year.

This time, the target is sitting state Sen. John Cowdery, who is being accused of arranging to give $25,000 in phony campaign contributions in 2006 to, according to the Anchorage Daily News, Donny Olson (D-Nome), who at the time was running for lieutenant governor. The money would have come from VECO Corp., which was once Alaska's largest oilfield services company. The purpose of the bribe was to get Olson to vote to keep state taxes low on big oil producers here.

This latest indictment for political corruption can only help the Democrats. As Alaska Republicans fend off lawyers, Presumptive Democratic nominee Obama has made real on threats to win the state, staffing it with an army of campaign workers.

Among the Republican lawmakers who may still be under federal investigation are U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and U.S. Rep. Don Young, both of whom are running for re-election. Neither have thus far been charged with crimes and both deny any wrongdoing.

At the center of the Cowdery-Olson scandal is Bill Allen, former CEO of VECO. He and another former VECO executive pleaded guilty in May 2007 to bribing state lawmakers to vote against increasing oil taxes. For more than a quarter-century, Allen was one of the most influential businessmen in Alaska and was heavily involved in politics. He contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Alaska politicians sympathetic to the oil industry and he co-chaired the Alaska finance committee for the Bush-Cheney 2000 election campaign.

Cowdery, 78, is the fifth Alaska Republican legislator charged in the federal corruption investigation. A lobbyist and a chief of staff to former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski have also been charged.

The indictment is full of cagey conversations between Cowdery, Allen and others, all of which were secretly recorded by the FBI in 2006. In one meeting with Cowdery, Allen and Olson were secretly recorded at an Anchorage restaurant. Cowdery tells Olson that it's important to Allen to "vote the way we voted." Olson is quoted in the indictment as saying that he could use some money to "get out there" and campaign. Allen said that the company "can probably go 25," as in $25,000. Cowdery suggests that Allen write a check to the senator. "Probably best for everybody," he said, according to the indictment. It's unclear in the indictment how Cowdery benefited from carrying Allen's water.

Cowdery has served 14 years in the legislature. Among other things, he is known for posting folksy tales about his family and life in Alaska on his website. One such tale invokes Alaska's the past, before oil was discovered here -- and, according to Cowdery, before the work of attorneys spoiled "kindly feelings":

No doubt we will envy some of the virtues of the early pioneers of the past. The fee-hearted hospitality, which made every homesteaders cabin a haven, where a person could find a meal or a place to spend the night, if the need be. That community of sentiment, which made neighbors, indeed neighbors, of that era of kindly feeling that was marked by the almost total absence of litigation. There was a strong, simple, upright, honest integrity of the people of that era.

Comments

[SPQR1052]

2008 is perdicted to be an ELECTORAL LANDSLIDE - think 1980 or 1976. (More 1946 because the
G0P realistically is NOT IN PLAY!!!

0bama 2008

[grumpygranny66]

Amanda "Please keep us posted when you find out how much Cowdery was paid for carrying the water for Bill Allen." All these greedy Oil Men believe they are invincible, and above the law. If Bill Allen was paying Gov. Frank Murkowski $25K, to give his oil company a tax break, Cowdery's palm must have heavily greased. What's the story with Olsen????? the only Dem. in the bunch, guess he couldn't keep his hands out of the cookie jar!....All of these criminal should be put in prison and throw away the keys...I hope they are not sentenced until after GB leaves office so he cannot pardon them..

[akryan]

Olsen is the guy that's been cooperating with the feds for the last year. He was the one that the bribe was aimed at but he never took it. He's no angel but he's more or less on the side of the law. I never thought I'd live to see it but the state may go blue this year. More than just Obama too. Remember the senate's longest sitting republican is our very own Ted Stevens. He has a tough race against a Mark Begich who's a popular candidate. Our rep Don Young, who has served 30 years himself, is having so many corruption problems he's spending his campaign funds on his legal defense. All the dem campaigns have good field teams. If our republican governor wasn't so wildly popular (85% sustained approval) it would be a slam dunk for the dems. BTW if you ever want to see some high comedy try to find a way to watch the AK congressional debates. The state is so small that even some total nut job candidates (makes Gravel look boring) get their ten minutes.

[grumpygranny66]

Those corrupt Rethuglicans should all be put in Prison, and the keys for the doors thrown away...

[JJeff88]

One of the hidden benefits of Sen. Obama's "50 state strategy" is that, when those rare opportunities (like Alaska) present themselves, the campaign is perfectly positioned to take advantage of them.

[grumpygranny66]

The Rethugs are making it very easy for Obama to win some states....Keep doing your criminal activities, and he will win big time come Nov., 2008.

[akryan]

This scandal is so much fun to watch up here in AK. Obama will definetely be helped by this. I shit you not when I say that the state is rabid with obamania. We gave him 77% of our delegates. The Anchorage caucuses shut down traffic. People were running through the streets (in feb. in AK. think dark and cold) to get in. The VECO execs mentioned stated under oath that they bribed Ben Stevens (Ted's son) so it's only a matter of time for him. Ted (the tubes)is under investigation because VECO took over construciton of an addition to his ski cabin. Don (bridge to nowhere)Young has resorted to spending his campaign money on legal fees for his scandals. We have a real chance to turn AK blue this year but we have an uphill battle because our republican gov. has the highest approval rating of any politician in the country and is an outside contender for McCain's VP pick. Any help you guys can give to the congressional races up here could lead to two of the longest serving GOP congressmen being defeated.