ETHICS -- SCANDAL-CLAD REP. YOUNG FACES FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOR POLITICAL FAVORS:
Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is now under federal investigation by the Justice Department for alleged political favors for a company in Alaska, the Wall Street Journal reports today. "Federal investigators are examining whether Rep. Young...accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corp., Alaska's largest oil-field engineering firm." "While the investigation into Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) ties to Veco, including the remodeling of his Girdwood home, has been widely reported, this is the first time Young has been implicated in the scandal." "For a decade, former VECO Chief Executive Bill Allen has held fund-raisers for Mr. Young in Anchorage every August, known as 'The Pig Roast,' participants said." Public records show that between 1996 and 2000, VECO employees and the company's political action committee gave at least at least $157,000 to Young. The congressman's history of abuse of power is well-documented. Recently, he collaborated in a pork project with several Alaska congressmen to earmark a "Bridge to Nowhere" for personal profiteering and has long-standing ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Young also confessed to "taking more than $5,500 in illegal campaign contributions from a seafood trade association since 2001," but he refuses to return all the donations.
From Progress Report 7/25/2007
1 comment:
What a surprise (not). Alaskan politicians have been so good about bringing home the bacon that I'm surprised more of them haven't been put under a spotlight.
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