Jury hears audio of Stevens fretting about inquiry

By TOM HAYS and JESSE J. HOLLAND

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Ted Stevens told wealthy businessman Bill Allen they needed to stick together and “really lay low” to beat an FBI investigation into their cozy relationship, according to audiotapes played Monday at the senator’s corruption trial.

“Screw them, if they prove we did something wrong,” the senator says in one of a series of secretly recorded telephone calls in the fall of 2006. “In my heart, I don’t think we did. ... I say, screw it.”

Stevens, unaware Allen already was cooperating with investigators, advises him, “We ought to really lay low right now.” He also tells him to cut down on drinking, watch his health and await the outcome of the probe into more than $250,000 in renovations on the senator’s cabin and other gifts provided by Allen’s oil pipeline company, VECO Corp.

“Let’s stick this thing out together, OK?” Stevens says.

Accused of lying on Senate finance disclosure forms to conceal the gifts, Stevens repeatedly — and sometimes profanely — asserts his innocence on tape. But he also tells his old friend he’s worried about the appearance of wrongdoing and even warns that they might be under surveillance.

“I think they’re probably listening to this conversation right now,” Stevens says in the recording.

“We might have to pay a fine and spend a little time in jail,” he continues. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

In contrast to the defiant-sounding senator, Allen comes across as downtrodden, telling his old friend, “I’m sorry this whole thing is happening,” he says.

There are no bribery charges against Stevens — a point that defense attorney Brendan Sullivan sought to drive home on cross-examination.

“You never sought to bribe Sen. Stevens, did you sir?” he asked.

“No,” Allen replied.

The jury heard the tapes after U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled that the trial should go despite an ongoing clash between Stevens’ attorney and prosecutors over evidence.

The judge ordered the government to file a formal response at the end of the day Monday to repeated defense claims that prosecutors intentionally withheld evidence favorable to their client. In an initial filing late Sunday, prosecutors wrote, “Contrary to all of the theatrics and hyperbole from the defense, no one has attempted to hide evidence or hold back any discoverable item.”

Allen testified last week he ignored requests by Stevens to send him bills for work by VECO employees who helped remodel the home, claiming a mutual friend told him the senator made the requests only to cover his tracks. Stevens says he was adamant that he pay all the bills and had no idea Allen was absorbing most costs himself.

Stevens, 84, a patriarch of Alaska politics for generations, has been holed up in the courtroom for more than two weeks while a Democratic opponent mounts a strong challenge back home to the seat the senator has held for 40 years.

On the Net:

Justice Department documents: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/us-v-stevens/

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