WASHINGTON, June 7 (UPI) -- Two Republican congressmen from Alaska are dealing with fallout over earmarks and a donor they have in common -- energy company executive Bill J. Allen.
U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, told The Washington Post that the FBI has asked him to "preserve records" for an investigation into possible corruption involving Allen, one of the senator's biggest supporters.
Stevens said he is complying with the FBI request.
Allen, a former director of Veco Corp., and an unnamed company executive pleaded guilty in May to bribing Alaska legislators. The executives wanted passage of legislation funding a natural gas pipeline. Veco stood to gain "billions of dollars," the newspaper said.
In 2006, U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, received more than $30,000 from Veco supporters, including Allen.
Young has also been under fire for placing a $10 million earmark in a 2006 transportation bill for a road near Fort Myers, Fla., although Young doesn't represent Florida. The road allegedly would have benefited Daniel J. Aronoff, a developer who owns thousands of acres of land along the road. Aronoff assisted with fundraising for Young, the Post reported.
A former aide of Young's recently plead guilty to bribery charges related to the conviction of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Neither Young nor Stevens have been charged with anything.
