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More Reasons For A Far Away Stevens Investigation
We noted last week that a Washington, DC grand jury -- rather than one in Anchorage --is investigating Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) shifty involvement with oil services company Veco Corp. Today the Anchorage Daily News offers more fodder for why federal investigators would want to set up shop so far from home.
The story is about the headache prosecutors are nursing in selecting a jury for the trial of former state Rep. Tom Andseron (R-AK). Anderson is charged with taking $24,000 in bribes from a company hoping to build a number of private prisons in Alaska. Though the case is not directly tied to the Veco scandal, Anderson was a Veco consultant while in office.
Prosecutors are hitting two problems with potential jurors that cut in opposite directions: their apparent low regard for local politicians and the inevitable ties within a small community. Here's what two rejected jury candidates had to say about Anderson:
"I've already made up my mind," Donald Burns of Soldotna told a U.S. District Court judge on Monday. Burns, wearing a T-shirt and a baseball cap, said he listens to talk radio, watches TV news and reads two newspapers. "I hope they hang him," he said....
When longtime Anchorage resident Hannah Davis heard about the charges against Anderson, her reaction was, "Oh no, not another one," she told the judge. Too often, people in power, from Anchorage to Washington, D.C., use their positions for personal gain, she said.
As for community ties, one potential juror said she had gone on a date with Anderson and said she found the accusations "kind of unbelievable."
How a potential jury would receive Stevens if he were ever on trial is hard to say. Stevens has been in office since 1968 and is an Alaska icon, bringing his state millions in federal dollars. His re-election campaign has already raked in $1 million and no viable competitor has stepped up to the plate. But some in the state have called him less popular and more vulnerable than in past elections. However a jury might cut for Stevens, it's clear that a prosecutor won't find 12 Alaskans who've never heard of him.
Comments (22)
Allan wrote on June 26, 2007 2:41 PM:If you could find 12 adult Alaskans who never heard of Stevens, would you trust them to be on a jury?
Trilce wrote on June 26, 2007 2:58 PM:Why not trust them, Allan? The law is explained, instructions are given. What qualifications, besides citizenship, are you aware of that would disqualify an "adult Alaskan," pray tell.
Edward wrote on June 26, 2007 3:35 PM:Oh, so I guess that must be the Ted Stevens who they named the international airport after.
tristan wrote on June 26, 2007 3:46 PM:Because he's been their senator for 39 years. Neurologists sometimes ask you who the president is in ascertaining if you've suffered a head injury.
Duke Boys wrote on June 26, 2007 3:48 PM:old boy network would off juror's kids or relatives,or threaten their business/job/happiness. ask the government employees who called out Ted's pork projects and its graft network in alaska- they are either not employed or left the state or both. Local guy Ray Metcalfe called bullshit on this for 20+ years! FBI just showed up
yes its that bad.
Allan wrote on June 26, 2007 3:50 PM:Boss Hogg and Hussein family didn't have it so good
Trilce,
I did not say they would be unqualified. I just said that one should question whether one could trust them (or their judgment) to come to a reasonable decision.
There is some common knowledge I would expect people to have. Without that knowledge, I would wonder whether they would be able to follow the judge's instructions.
For example,
1. What city, state, and country they live in.
2. The name of the president.
3. The day, month, and year.
4. The name of the person who has been their senator for 40 years.
Now, the exception, especially in Alaska, might be someone who lives so far outside of civilization that they do not know. But, those people would likely not be called to sit on a jury.
Alex wrote on June 26, 2007 3:54 PM:Stevens has been one of Alaska's Senators for almost 40 years, he's famous for bringing Alaska Billions (not millions as noted above)in Federal Dollars. Stevens has been one of Alaska's Senators for longer than most Alaskans have been alive. For someone to be a mentally competent adult and a resident of Alaska yet still not be familiar with Stevens is unthinkable.
Justus wrote on June 26, 2007 4:00 PM:Per Rand McNally...That's the Ted Stewart Airport
steve duncan wrote on June 26, 2007 4:05 PM:A prerequisite for sitting on a jury is to never have heard of the accused?
heh wrote on June 26, 2007 4:36 PM:This site is great! Thx Josh and all.
Yeah, it always never sat well with me how a rural state like Alaska with hardly any residents could send any federal money to DC and get back billions. Do the math.
Old Ted(80 YO) just got too comfy for me, but the larger message should be that this kind of comfort should scream for term limits. We have it here in Calif. for state legislature and they want to bring it back. NO!
diane wrote on June 26, 2007 4:41 PM:Term limits for federal office is the way to go and stop this sucking off the trough, nepotism and all the other 'isms' related to graft.
I'm damn sick of it.
every alaskan has enjoyed ted stevens and associates corruptness, no way to find an impartial jury one way or another. my disappointment in uncle ted is that he's squandered the seniority that alaskans have reelected him for, for personal gain. now him and his cronies have f'd it up for everyone else.
parrot wrote on June 26, 2007 5:33 PM:Like the date reference--good stuff!
Anonymous wrote on June 26, 2007 8:31 PM:Duke Boys have it right.
Retaliation in the last frontier is the rule, not the exception. Crime is just another non-event if it's by a staate worker in the favor of management.
I doesn't matter what law or rule is beig broken,
someone will lose their job and it's usually the person that reports the problem.
Security Code: Bent
Ben Enlists Nepotism's Treasures
Trilce wrote on June 26, 2007 8:35 PM:pretty weak
Alaskadon1 wrote on June 26, 2007 9:15 PM:There appears to be a dialogue going between Alaskans and those known here as being from "Outside". Alaska is an unusual and polarized place, (pun intended), with a total population about equal to the cities or Fresno, CA or El Paso, TX or Canton, OH. Much of that is dispersed beyond the five metropolitan communities.
One example of unusual response: a phone poll of 400 by a legit survey company found that 10% were MORE LIKELY to vote for Ted Stevens if he were indicted. Rather bizarre, eh? Such is politics in Alaska today. How about where YOU live?
Anonymous wrote on June 27, 2007 12:01 AM:Lest we forget that Tom Anderson is married to Lesil McGuire, daughter of Dr. David McGuire, co-owner with Ted Stevens, Bill Allen and his son Bill Allen in Alaska's Great Eagle, a corporate entity that owns a racehorse.
http://www.senatemajority.com/files/akgreateagle.pdf
Bye Bye Birdie wrote on June 27, 2007 12:03 AM:Lest we forget that Tom Anderson is married to Lesil McGuire, daughter of Dr. David McGuire, co-owner with Ted Stevens, Bill Allen and his son Bill Allen in Alaska's Great Eagle, a corporate entity that owns a racehorse.
http://www.senatemajority.com/files/akgreateagle.pdf
pcpriest wrote on June 27, 2007 3:47 AM:Why all the charges, investigations, and legal stuff. Anyone who has lived in Alaska as long as I have should realize that this is how we do business up here. Most Alaskans don't care as long as they have jobs and get the yearly permanent fund. Hell we don't even mind sharing those benefits with corporations as long as our check nets us 1K/yr. Worrying about the small details of how government only interferes with time that could be better spent playing with our ATV's, snowmachines, and other toys. Besides, who has time to vote up here with all the outdoor excitement going on? Go Ben and Ted!!!!
pcpriest wrote on June 27, 2007 3:50 AM:Why all the charges, investigations, and legal stuff. Anyone who has lived in Alaska as long as I have should realize that this is how we do business up here. Most Alaskans don't care as long as they have jobs and get the yearly permanent fund. Hell we don't even mind sharing those benefits with corporations as long as our check nets us 1K/yr. Worrying about the small details of how government only interferes with time that could be better spent playing with our ATV's, snowmachines, and other toys. Besides, who has time to vote up here with all the outdoor excitement going on? Go Ben and Ted!!!!
salmonshark wrote on June 27, 2007 5:36 AM:Yeah, pc who has the time-
Unless you have been denied access to the opportunities that are not announced, and apparently only one bigoted person stands between you and ....
Then you get into courts where the same corrupt relationships exist inthe state. Same attorney defending a criminal as defends the State's judge.
Going to Oregon and a Federal Court, was a good plan even though it was impossible.
Violating treaties is taken pretty serious in the Ninth Circuit. No wonder they took 15+ months.
And all the State could do instead of having one breath of transparency is to conspire and perjure.
Heads will roll beyond what is now happening. Marquez, his cronys and people who were there befor him. Frankly, Murkowski should be in trouble the same way the Illinois Ryan convictions happened. Look out if you are a State OA employee and played dumb....
The writing is on the wall.
And if you took a job with the AFSCME straight out of state employment when you should have taken two years off by statute.
Idealogue Democrats from tyh Knowles Admin. will get burned on this deal ,too.
salmonshark wrote on June 27, 2007 5:54 AM:Oh, the security code-
This time it is: sugar
Surely Unions Give Ash8 About Retaliation?
not!
molly wrote on June 27, 2007 11:47 AM:Who knows if the Stevens boys are elected or not. Alaska wouldn't turn over voting documents to the democratic party when their was evidence of election fraud...just refused to do it. So maybe the boys aren't so popular after all. If you have to steal an election, you aren't popular.