From the Associated Press early this morning:
An Alaska contractor appealed to Sen. Ted Stevens to help win federal contracts, obtain grants and settle immigration issues, federal prosecutors say.
The Justice Department stops short of calling that corruption, but prosecutors want to present that evidence at trial next month.
The Alaska Republican is charged with lying on Senate financial disclosure records about hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and services he received from contractor VECO Corp.
Ted Stevens’ friend Norm Coleman also received money from VECO executive felons such as CEO Bill Allen and VP Rick Smith. If Coleman returned $20,000 of the $30,000 he’s received from Ted Stevens’ PAC for “political reasons,” why hasn’t he returned the VECO money?
The whole piece starts to illustrate how embedded VECO was.
Then, this afternoon, another AP piece came out on the scandal:
This week, the Justice Department offered its first public glimpse at what it uncovered: a direct line of communication from a corrupt Alaska oil contractor to one of the nation’s most powerful senators. When VECO Corp. executives needed help securing business, winning grants or navigating the bureaucracy, they called Stevens.
And when Stevens needed a new generator for his house, a car for his daughter or a job for his son, prosecutors say he called VECO, the same company that oversaw an extensive renovation project on his home.
…and it’s not just Stevens:
Two VECO executives, founder Bill Allen and vice president Rick Smith, have pleaded guilty to bribing sympathetic legislators with cash, jobs and gifts to push for a state oil tax deal and construction of a natural gas pipeline.
So why is Norm Coleman still okay with money from Bill Allen and Rick Smith?
AP: “Feds: Stevens got favors, contractor got key ally and direct line to Washington power”

Look at this. A long reach on this one to grab Norm and not one lefty commenting.
Oh, and left’s get this out of the way for flower lovin’ PansyBoy……
YOU are RIGHT!!!!! I AGREE 100%!!!! Mike
Minnesota Republican blogger MO I agree 100%,
Everyone knows people who disagree with us Minnesota Republican bloggers are flower lovin’ Pansyboys.
Great Job!!
Hey Typical,
Just like fishing - drop a lure, and then reel them in 100%%%%% AGREE!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH!
Minnesota Republican blogger MO I agree 100%, it definitely is.
Thank you for perfectly representing the typical Minnesota Republican blogger.
I encourage you to continue insulting, ridiculing, exaggerating the positions of, and smearing people who disagree with Minnesota Republican bloggers. That is the only way we Republicans will win our permanent election campaign.
We help elect politicians who represent Minnesota Republican bloggers, and that is the only thing that matters. They act exactly like we do, which is why Norm Coleman is the perfect choice.
Great Job Typical Minnesota Republican blogger Mike (MO)
100%!!!!
I AGREE!!!!!
You are RIGHT!!!
Like shooting fish in a barrel………………
Coeman’s a dirty Pol. Makes me glad I was never foolish enough to believe his centrist crap.
100% better than Wellstone….for Bush. Indeed.
lo - do I detect that you’re not entirely happy with Norm “Smokescreen” Coleman, R=Lapdog?
Whaaa!
how can we think that people wont become greedy with power i just think its part of human nature