Juneau, Alaska
The chief executive of Alaska’s largest oil-field services company pleaded guilty this week to bribing current and former state legislators. Bill Allen, CEO of VECO Corp., admitted he gave more than $400,000 to various legislators, including a $243,000 “consulting fee” to a state senator who’d done no consulting. State Rep. Vic Kohring, former House Speaker Pete Kott, and former state Rep. Bruce Weyrauch, all Republicans, were indicted last week on related extortion and bribery charges. The three have pleaded not guilty. According to the indictment, Allen bribed the legislators to obtain their votes on legislation he favored. After Allen handed over one payment to Kott, prosecutors said, Allen told him, “I own your ass.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
October 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being releasedThe Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
