Sen. Ted Stevens Indicted for Alleged Dirty Deals

Ted Stevens at a news conference earlier this month.

Photo: AP Photo /Susan Walsh

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Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was indicted Monday on charges related to work an oil services company allegedly did to renovate his home.

In his career as the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator, Stevens became known as a shrewd and ruthless politician who relentless sought federal cash for his state. He was the king of pork, and was referred to as a pillar of the Alaskan economy, so lavish was the federal spending he arranged.

The Justice Department continues to investigate whether any of that money flowed to friends who had paid special attention to the senator's financial desires. The indictment accused Stevens of using his office to benefit VECO, the oil services company that allegedly did $250,000 of unreported work on the senator's home, but he wasn't indicted for it.

Alaska is a state with an incestuous relationship with oil, seeing as how its unparalleled wild spaces yield enough oil revenue to keep taxpayers from being, well, taxpayers, at least where incomes taxes are concerned.

Stevens faced a tough re-election bid even before the indictment. Justice, or political expediency, may make the decision for voters.

Our friends over at Grist have a good overview of the senator's record on the environment (hint: it's not good) and other allegations about possible dirty deals.

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