Anchorage Daily News

Kott gets 6 years

A federal judge sentenced former state House Speaker Pete Kott to six years in prison on Friday for his role in a corrupt scheme to push an industry-backed oil tax.

Audio: Statements made at sentencing

PDF: Dept. of Justice press release

Blog: Alaska Politics

So far, just speculation in Ben Stevens probe

The FBI over the past year slapped handcuffs on four former Alaska lawmakers with ties to Veco Corp. Three were convicted in federal court of corruption and a fourth awaits trial. But despite testimony from two Veco executives that they bribed former state Sen. Ben Stevens, he hasn't been charged.

Convicted former legislator Anderson off to Oregon to begin sentence

Convicted former lawmaker Tom Anderson was to leave on a flight Saturday night to report to prison in Oregon.

Prosecution wants max for Kott

Prosecutors want to put former House Speaker Pete Kott away -- for more than 10 years. Kott's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 7, and prosecutors filed their recommendation to the judge on Friday. Defense lawyer Jim Wendt said his recommendation should be filed today. He expected to ask for a range of 33 to 41 months.

Bobrick's lawyer releases McGuire's phone messages

The lawyer representing convicted lobbyist Bill Bobrick on Thursday played for reporters two telephone messages left by state Sen. Lesil McGuire, confirming she indeed made the calls reported in court Tuesday but not entirely dispelling the ambiguity over whether they were threats.

Audio: McGuire's message

Lesil McGuire accused of threatening witness

State Sen. Lesil McGuire was accused Tuesday of making veiled threats to dissuade a lobbyist from testifying in the corruption case against her husband, former state Rep. Tom Anderson.

Audio from the sentencing hearing

More on the political investigations

PBS: NOW

PBS documentary features 'Big Oil' and Alaska

A documentary exploring "Big Oil's" influence on Alaska politics, with an emphasis on the latest corruption trials.

Former lobbyist likely to spend time behind bars

Once-prominent, Bill Bobrick almost surely is going to prison. But not for long. Bobrick has been cooperating with the government, so will get much less time than the five years slapped on the only other defendant sentenced so far in the corruption probe.

More on the investigations

Stevens blames media for image troubles

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens said Thursday he has no fear of a Democratic opponent in next year's election, and he blamed overzealous reporters for the continued interest in the federal investigation both he and his son have been caught up in.

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens being interviewed Thursday in Washington by ADN reporter Erika Bolstad and Joel Southern of the Alaska Public Radio Network.

Audio:The political investigations and the media coverage

Audio:Alaska soldiers dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome

Audio:Alaska federal spending

Judge OKs two getaways for Kott

Former state House Speaker Pete Kott, convicted in September of bribery, conspiracy and extortion, is squeezing in two quick trips to Nevada before his sentencing in federal court.

Former legislator set to enter Oregon federal prison Dec. 3

A former Alaska lawmaker convicted of seven counts of conspiracy and bribery will begin his five-year federal prison sentence next month. Former Rep. Tom Anderson said Monday he will report to a federal prison south of Portland, Ore., on Dec. 3.

Political corruption coverage

Earmarks, favors: Young used position for funds and his donors' projects

As chairman of the House transportation committee, Alaska Congressman Don Young crisscrossed America to view proposed highway projects -- and to collect campaign contributions from road builders, real estate developers, lobbyists and business people. With weak opposition in his elections in Alaska, he spent campaign money to fly in corporate jets and stay in luxury resorts and hotels. Back in Washington, he steered hundreds of millions of dollars in federal highway money to pet projects that benefited people who gave him campaign cash.

N.Y. developer dotes on politicians

Donations for Young, then an earmark

No retrial or acquittal for Kott

ANCHORAGE -- A federal judge on Thursday denied a request for a retrial in the corruption case against former state Rep. Pete Kott.

APOC to work with feds in corruption inquiry

The Alaska Public Offices Commission is moving forward on its investigation of what Veco illegally did to benefit Alaska politicians. But APOC is going to have its investigator liaison with the U.S. Department of Justice to try and avoid conflict with the ongoing federal investigation into corruption in Alaska politics.

APOC says it will not back down from poll investigation

Conviction snagged on one point

The reason jurors found former state Rep. Vic Kohring not guilty on one of the four corruption charges against him boils down to a technical requirement of a federal law that dates back more than 60 years.

'Little fish' Kohring gets sympathy

Alaska Politics Blog: Kohring speaks

Video: FBI surveillance tapes

Audio: FBI wire taps

PDF: Kohring superceding indictment

More coverage on the Kohring trial

FRIDAY

Feds 3 for 3; legislators expect more busts

Word of Vic Kohring's conviction spread fast Thursday afternoon through the state Capitol. Legislators and aides stopped one another in the halls. "Hey, did you hear the verdict?" said one. "Guilty."

'Little fish' Kohring gets sympathy

People in Vic Kohring's corner of Alaska were in head-shaking mode Thursday afternoon. Of course, they've been shaking their heads since the whole moving picture show hit town -- the grainy FBI video of him taking money from Veco pockets.

Defense rests without Kohring's testimony

The defense case for former state Rep. Vic Kohring consisted of two witnesses who on Tuesday spent just an hour on the stand between them: Kohring's 19-year-old nephew and a longtime Kohring friend and political adviser from the Mat-Su area.

Audio: Korhing confident he will be exonerated

Audio: Bill Allen testimony

Pete Kott's call for new trial disputed by federal attorneys

Allen drops blackmail bombshell in Kohring trial testimony

Former Veco Corp. chief executive Bill Allen, on the witness stand for a second day Monday, revealed that his nephew tried to blackmail him over work done on U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' home.

Kohring earned almost $100K from 2 jobs

Jury sees Kohring's 'Red Carpet List'

Video: Frank Prewitt secretly records Kohring for the FBI

More on the Kohring trial

Is oil-tax taint real, or did PPT pass fairly?

Was the oil tax passed by the Legislature last year really tainted by corruption, as Alaska's governor and other critics contend?