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Murkowski's Husband Fears Ethics Investigation
It's too bad the construction work on Sen. Lisa Murkowski's new lot has come to a stop because of a possible ethics investigation, Murkowski's husband said on an Alaska talk radio show last week.
Murkowski's husband, Verne Martell, ran through how he and his wife came to buy the property from millionaire real estate developer Bob Penney with radio show host Rick Rydell last Wednesday. Martell said that when it came time to sign the paperwork, Murkowski still had some reservations about it.
"But yeah, when we signed the loan, Lisa signed on it and said, you know, this might come back to bite us. Well, you know, we'll deal with that when it comes," Martell said.
Looks like Martell should have listened to his wife. The Washington Post and other national media have picked up the AP's story on the scandal this weekend, and possibly even more damaging for Murkowski, the Anchorage Daily News ran a scathing editorial about the deal.
Here's the audio from Martell's radio interview. It's well worth a listen:
Update: Reader AR notes that Martell also upends Bob Penney's claim that he didn't know what the assessed value was on the property.
Comments (19)
Anonymous wrote on July 23, 2007 1:50 PM:Is there something in the rules for Alaskan federal officeholders that requires they make money from deals provided by "supporters"?
What with Stevens's activities (now coming under scrutiny) that seem to have netted him some serious profits and Young's attitude that House appropriations are "his" money (some basis for that, Mr. Young?), maybe Murkowski is just trying to catch up.
Tom Casagrande wrote on July 23, 2007 2:07 PM:Is that fish REAL?
lutton wrote on July 23, 2007 2:07 PM:all they had to do was pay fair market value for the sucker--no scandal
Hoppy wrote on July 23, 2007 2:11 PM:It is becoming obvious that only crooks (i.e. Republicans) need run for office in Alaska. Those folks have strange voting standards.
johnson wrote on July 23, 2007 2:12 PM:...so Penney told them at the time that the assessed value was $180K, according to Martell.
About 2.5 minutes in: "When Bob came back and said the city appraised, or assessed it out at $180, we both kinda went huh?"
Does this contradict Penney's "word of honor," or is he referring to a different appraisal here?
kazoom wrote on July 23, 2007 2:21 PM:To Tom Casagrande:
Yes, the fish is real. That's why the river the lot is on is so popular. It's called a king salmon.
Eric Ferguson wrote on July 23, 2007 2:46 PM:Don't mention the investigation. From the Anchorage Daily News story, I linked to this story, http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/9153843p-9070303c.html, about Stevens leading a tour of DC mucky-mucks to Alaska. It included this sentence:
Punchy wrote on July 23, 2007 3:03 PM:Stevens said he wouldn't answer any questions with the word "investigation" in them, which ruled out questions about the federal inquiry into renovations that doubled the size of his Girdwood home in 2000.
What the f#ck is Alaska's problem with ethically-challenged Congressional representation?
I'm guessing a very easy Alaska Democratic slogan in 2008 will be "Vote Us. We don't Cheat/Lie/Steal/Break Laws"
newsnmews wrote on July 23, 2007 3:49 PM:Maybe paying residents lots of money for the privilege of exploiting the state's natural resources fosters political complacence.
Anonymous wrote on July 23, 2007 3:59 PM:Geez Gosh Dang Bygolly we are just a bunch dang people that like fishin'
Stevens, Young and Murkowski families are like the Bushes just a bunch of hardworkin folk doing god's work in god's country
jeez they are good at it. dang. golly gee
Armstrong wrote on July 23, 2007 5:18 PM:Alaska is an insufferable Red state, and proud of it. Right-winger talk radio is omni-present..."speaks the TRUTH," unlike the "Liberal media". Everything is a Liberal plot. The rape and ruin crowd is admired as sane and sensible....everyone else is an environmental crazy and wants to shut down the Alaskan economy and cost the jobs of Alaskans. The rest of America is "Outside" as if separate from a unique Alaskan reality. Republicans seem, to the deluded locals and dittoheads, to represent rugged individualism, not the cronyism and corruption of reality. Besides, they say, all Democrats do the just the same things. So, as Faux News and the Drudge Report assure them, it's no big deal...same old - same old ... no scandal here...just move along. This is how God meant it to be.
There is no more glaring example in America of the failures of the Electoral College and our system of donor based funding of electoral candidates. Electoral overhaul is overdue.
johnnydoughey wrote on July 23, 2007 5:18 PM:Okay, the truth is in.
aquifinafauxpas wrote on July 23, 2007 5:37 PM:It wasn't Murkowski's fault... it was her husband's. She had reservations, but being the battered woman that she is, she had no ability to stop the deal. How DARE anyone accuse this poor victim of any wrongdoing. Her husband is just lucky she didn't strike back... this time. A few weeks in a battered woman's home and she should be able to make more rational decisions... as long as Verne is put away where he can't get to her again...
Heh, that fish must be getting kinda stinky after all the pics she's had with it...kinda like that whole deal?
db wrote on July 23, 2007 5:47 PM:The poor senator. Don't you feel sorry for the poor thing. First her daddy made her take over his senate seat withoug having to get any votes, just his signature. Then this mean lobbyist forces her to buy a prize lot on the Kenai at the most choice location on the river for fishing by offering to sell it to her for a fraction of its makrket value. Only a fool would have said no to a bargain like that. She's no fool. And now people are mad at her!
Her husband was candid. They'd deal with it if they had to, it was worth the risk, the deal was just toooooo good to let go. They'd probably 'get away with it.'
palmerBuyer wrote on July 23, 2007 8:41 PM:Trust me, the permanent fund dividend of (usually) around $850 isn't a good enough reason to spend a six month winter here. YES, the state is gorgeous -- and I love it and wouldn't live anywhere else. BUT, for the PFD? No way. Housing, utilities, food, cars, etc. -- all are MUCH higher here.
As to poor baby Lisa. If she were as ethical as we hoped she was, she would have 'just said NO' when her Daddy made her a Senator AND when Bob Penney made her an offer she couldn't refuse.
This doesn't pass the SMELL test AND from Verne's own words, SHE KNEW IT AT THE TIME. Fishing can be aromatic, but this fish deal STINKS. This was ANOTHER MURKY deal. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?
Lisa - don't forget to file your taxes with FULL MARKET VALUE delineated. Remember Al Capone.
AKClammer wrote on July 23, 2007 10:52 PM:Apparently Lisa got a sweetheart deal on the loan as well. 39 year loan on undeveloped property from the Bank of Ketchikan; don't know about the interest rate yet. (Her grandpa was the bank president, she and her dad were on the board, and her sister is now on the board.) I
joel mael wrote on July 24, 2007 6:42 AM:Was the consideration 'this might by wrong, unethical, illegal'?
No, the consideration was 'we might get caught'.
That expressed attitude, alone, ought to be enough for a recall.
Republicanthink exposed.
J
bp wrote on August 8, 2007 8:55 AM:The interviewer sounds pretty laid back. Two good ol boys chewing the fat. No wonder the politicos in Alaska have been getting away with this kind of stuff for so long. That bridge to somewhere (politicians'pockets) sure highlighted things.
AlaskaGambit wrote on October 3, 2007 4:05 PM:I'm rushing from post to post trying to explain things so we Alaskans don't sound like complete idiots. Some of this stuff must be taken in context - some is genuinely wierd.
first, the Permanant Fund Divident - yes, we get it, I don't approve of it, but I take it, I feel guilty, but jeez, it's a lot of money, and if we left it to the politicians they would just squander it, so - what can I say? Hey, you'd take it, too.
Yes, there's corruption, just like every other state. It's been kept quiet, but is now going public. About time.
Yes, our 3 person Congressional delegation is looking pretty sketchy. Don't Blame Me! I didn't vote for them.
Yes, there are lots of far-right-wing Republicans here. But there are also some fearless Dems, too. And even Republicans believe in honest government. Or so I've been told.
The bridge from nowhere here in Anchorage is indeed a disaster, and many of us (not defined by political party) are against it. But like anywhere in this great country of ours - Money talks!
Folks - give us a few days - we're working as fast as we can to clean up this mess.