Northern Exposure

For a decade Bill Allen, CEO of the energy company VECO, used to throw a Summer political fundraiser (LINK) called "The Pig Roast."

But Allen and the legislators who benefited from his largesse are the ones feeling the heat these days, most recently the man known for his Incredible Hulk ties, the powerful former Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, (LINK) the most senior Republican in the Senate, who saw his Girdwood, Alaska home raided by the IRS and FBI yesterday.

"I continue to believe this investigation should proceed to its conclusion without any appearance that I have attempted to influence its outcome," Stevens said in a statement issued through his spokesman last night. "The legal process should be allowed to proceed so that all the facts can be established and the truth determined."

The search came as part of a public integrity probe of VECO officials and their bribing of Alaska officials to obtain a pipeline — so far Allen and another executive (LINK), a VECO lobbyist (LINK), and three current or former members of the Alaska legislature (LINK) have pleaded guilty.

Also mentioned in the investigation are Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and myriad others including a group Alaska legislators jokingly calling themselves "the Corrupt Bastards Club" — they even had hats made! (LINK)

Allen, said to be cooperating with authorities, personally oversaw the expansion of Stevens’ Alaska home (CLICK HERE TO SEE) , and contractors have said bills went to VECO before they went to Stevens. (The renovation included lifting the house up on stilts and adding a floor, doubling the size of the home, located at a resort.)

Says Stevens (LINK), "As a practical matter, I will tell you. We paid every bill that was given to us. Every bill that was sent to us has been paid, personally, with our own money, and that’s all there is to it. It’s our own money."

Of course, that doesn’t really answer the question if the bills went to VECO first. Hence, presumably, the raid.

Stevens’ son, Ben, the former president of the Alaska state senate, saw his home and office raided last year and he was allegedly paid by VECO more than $200,000 for a make-work consulting job, according to the probe.

But it’s Papa Stevens who remains one of the most powerful men in the Senate and, at 83, will be up for reelection this year.

Stevens earlier this month said that he had received "overwhelming support" from his fellow Senators on the matter since "senators read papers too, and it’s sort of a family, the Senate family comes around when someone’s got a problem, and they’ve all encouraged me, ‘Don’t get excited about this’ because so many people have been through it in their own states and it’s not an easy thing."

For that heartwarming quote, listen to this AUDIO LINK

This all happens as the House and Senate take up the lobbying/ethics reform package!

– jt