September 25, 2007

Oil corruption case

The trial of an Alaska politician accused of taking bribes from the oil industry has offered a glimpse into more widespread corruption in the state's government. Details emerged in the trial of former state House Speaker Pete Kott about oil-friendly legislators who dubbed themselves the "Corrupt Bastards Club" and secretly taped booze-soaked hotel conversations showing how leaders of the state's biggest oil-services company used their clout to manipulate Alaska politics. The Kott trial, which began September 5 and went to the jury Monday afternoon, is the second so far resulting from a wide-ranging federal corruption probe that broke a year ago with raids by federal agents of several lawmakers' offices and homes. The probe has ensnared U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, U.S. Rep. Don Young and others.

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