Alaska FBI Raid: PLEASE Tell They Found the Hats (Corrupt Bastards Club)

[Oilwellian]

AP reports on the recent raid on Alaska lawmakers' offices, including those of Ben Stevens, son of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK):

Among the items federal agents were searching for in Alaska legislative offices this week are hats or garments labeled “Corrupt Bastards Club” or “Corrupt Bastards Caucus,” according to the search warrant.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001459.php

Used to be that it was the coverup that got you. Now it's the bragging.

[lvx35]

1. Son of "King of Pork"

Yesterday, the FBI raided the office of Ben Stevens, who's president of the Alaska State Senate -- and son of Sen. Ted "King of Pork" Stevens (R-AK).

prince of pork, I guess?

[C_U_L8R]

8. Yes... also known as The Prince of Porkness

[Syrinx]

2. Wow, is this for real?

That takes hubris to a new level. Mind blowing.

[Oilwellian]

3. Here's more...

The Corrupt Bastards Club started as a barroom joke last spring among Alaska legislators whose names were linked to large campaign contributions from oil field services company VECO Corp.


“Somebody walked up and said, ‘You corrupt bastards,’ and that name stuck,” said House Finance Co-Chairman Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski.

Campaign contributions from VECO executives to 11 lawmakers, including Chenault, were detailed in a guest opinion article that ran in the state’s three largest newspapers in March. A 12th lawmaker, Senate President Ben Stevens, the son of U.S. Sen Ted Stevens, was also noted in the article as receiving generous consulting fees from VECO. Stevens has collected more than $240,000 from VECO since 2000.

All Alaska Alliance Executive Director Lori Backes wrote the column, questioning whether the financial linkages between VECO and lawmakers created “undue influence” over the state’s political process. Backes’ group supports a North Slope natural gas pipeline proposal different from the project favored by Gov. Frank Murkowski and supported by VECO, a heavy hitter in Alaska politics.

“It was a barroom joke that (was made) after Ms. Backes wrote her article about legislators that had received money from VECO,” Chenault said.

Hats were even made with the initials “CBC” on them, but “that was the extent of the CBC deal,” Chenault said.
http://www.adn.com/news/government/story/8144643p-8038526c.html

[Syrinx]

4. (almost) unbelievable

Wow. By the way I was your first vote. I like it when I'm first to recommend a great post. :D

[Oilwellian]

9. Wow, thanks

Sorry for the delay...I went to la la land after updating the post in the week morning. :D

[fooj]

5. Laughing all the f*cking way to the bank...

:grr:

[roguevalley]

12. Mike Chenault is a bastard all right. I CANNOT TELL you how much

entertained I am about this. I hope Paul Fischer is caught up in this. THis probe is looking to go way back than just now. Frank wanted another special session, the third, to try and ram his oil bill through and was told it wouldn't be good with the legislature under investigation by the FBI.

:rofl:

[fortyfeetunder]

6. Same initials as the...

Congressional Black Caucus...
:mad:
After conviction may we have a new name for them...,.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. They're all over the place. They've infested our country like vermin.

And I hate to tell you, but most people will defend corrupt public officials, without even realizing what they're doing. Because those corrupt bastards are everywhere. They're in the Rotary Club which meets every Friday at the Country Club, they're members of the Country Club, they're in the Chamber of Commerce, they're on your board of commissioners, they control powerful law firms. And the smart ones give back ten cents for every dollar they steal just to keep their cover in the community.

[populistdriven]

10. I am sure this will be all over ABC news

:sarcasm:

[struggle4progress]

11. VECO apparently gives money to Ted too

TED STEVENS: CAREER PROFILE (SINCE 1989)
Top Contributors ..

#17 Veco Inc $32,250 ..

http://opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?CID=N00007997


FBI Raids Offices of 6 Alaska Legislators
Probe Looks for Ties With Oil-Field Firm
By Matt Volz
Associated Press
Saturday, September 2, 2006; Page A03

JUNEAU, Alaska, Sept. 1 -- The offices of at least six Alaska state legislators, including that of the son of Sen. Ted Stevens (R), were raided .. 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 H. Murkowski (R) and to a draft natural gas pipeline contract that Murkowski and the state's three largest oil companies negotiated .. The warrant called for the seizure of documents concerning any payment made to lawmakers by Bill Allen and Richard Smith, executives of Veco Corp. Agents also looked for documents about contracts, agreements or employment of legislators provided by Veco, Allen, Smith and Veco President Peter Leathard .. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090101465.html