Stevens says he's worried about re-election run

2007-07-11

Source: Associated Press

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens says he's worried about how a corruption investigation could affect his run for re-election next year.

The 83-year-old Republican has drawn Justice Department scrutiny over a renovation project in 2000 that more than doubled the size of his home in Girdwood.

The remodeling was overseen by Bill Allen, a contractor who has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state legislators. Allen is founder of VECO Corp., an Alaska-based oil field services and engineering company that has reaped tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts.

Allen is cooperating with the FBI. It appears investigators are looking at whether VECO got anything in return for the home improvement help.

Alaska's senior senator is caught up in a larger probe that included FBI raids last summer at offices of six Alaska legislators, including Stevens' son, Ben, who was then president of the state Senate.

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