U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, on his first trip back to Alaska since FBI agents searched his Girdwood home last week, vigorously defended controversial budget earmarks on Tuesday before a large and welcoming hometown crowd.
But he refused to address questions from reporters before or after his speech about the renovation of his home, the ongoing federal investigation or earmarks that benefited his son, Ben, a former aide and their clients.
"I know you're interested in the items that have been in the media recently. I wish I could discuss those in detail. But to avoid any suggestion that I as a senator am attempting to influence an investigation by the Department of Justice, I simply cannot talk about it," he said at the start of his speech before The Anchorage Rotary Club at the Anchorage Hilton. He talked for more than 30 minutes, counting time for questions.
Federal investigators are looking into a 2000 construction project that doubled the size of Stevens' Girdwood home. Bill Allen, the former longtime CEO of Veco Corp., oversaw the work, and the investigation appears focused on whether any of it was an improper gift. Allen has pleaded guilty to bribing four state legislators, including Stevens' son, Ben, who has not been charged.
Stevens never mentioned the house project on Tuesday.
"I do think it's in the best interest of the state that this investigation proceeds, and I hope you'll understand what I've just said," he said.
SUPPORTERS TURN OUT
Well before the senator arrived, a few dozen people, many holding signs, gathered outside the Hilton at the invitation of state Republican Party leaders to show their support for Stevens. Some said they always make a point of thanking Stevens when he's in town.
"I've known him for 40 years," said Jane Niebergall of Anchorage, a retiree who worked in real estate, retail and publishing and as a Bush educator.
Her young grandson soon held her sign, which said: "I am happy to see you, Senator. Thank you for your hard work in Alaska." Scrawled in the margin: "A good man!"
The investigation just makes her sad. Things are too muddy. "I do believe he's an honest man," Niebergall said.
Another longtime Alaskan, Frank Reed, a retired banker and early city leader who has lived here for 91 of his 94 years, called the investigation "a witch hunt."
Republicans have rallied for Stevens during congressional recesses as a group before, said Alaska Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich, who helped organize Tuesday's show.
The investigation, Ruedrich said, was "a very unfortunate attack at this time."
"There may be things wrong. I don't think the senator has done anything wrong. He's made comments to that effect and I believe him."
People shouldn't be too quick to judge Stevens, who has done so much for Alaska, said Marilyn Stewart, who held a sign that said "Well Done!"
"The FBI is doing their job but it doesn't signify that the senator has done anything wrong," Stewart said.
Carl Marrs, the former head of Cook Inlet Region Inc. and part of a group of influential Alaskans who have owned race horses with Stevens, showed up at the rally too.
Just after noon, Stevens pulled up in a white Chevy Tahoe owned by his campaign committee.
"Hello, Senator!" a fan called out. "Welcome home!"
"It is nice to be home," Stevens answered.
"So many people to hug around here," he added as he made his way through the crowd.
After that warm greeting, Stevens walked briskly, brushing off reporters as he made his way to the hotel ballroom. There another friendly crowd waited to hear him speak. The Rotarians greeted him with a standing ovation and sang "God Bless America."
At least twice on Tuesday, Stevens turned as if to respond to reporters who fired off questions. Aides jumped in and moved him along.
Jonathon Lack, an Anchorage attorney, state Republican Party officer and former Stevens aide, introduced the man whom he said everyone knows as "Uncle Ted."
When Lack worked for Stevens as a young staffer, he sometimes had the task of escorting the senator to morning meetings, he told the audience. As he waited one morning, Stevens' cat Tigger was tormenting a tiny shrew. Lack said he tried to get the cat to stop and finally resorted to nudging it with his foot. It may have looked like he was kicking the cat -- just as the senator stepped outside.
Stevens let loose. "Don't kick the goddamn cat!" Lack tried to explain about the shrew. Stevens wouldn't have it. "He's doing his job. Maybe I should kick you every time you do your job."
The audience roared.
But that's what it's like being a U.S. senator, Lack told them.
"People kick you when you do your job and after you get kicked, you go right back to it, doing the work you were elected to do."
IRAQ, EARMARKS
Audience members were too polite to ask about the federal investigation, sticking instead to topics such as Iraq and the Denali Commission.
Here's what Stevens said about Iraq:
"What we'd like to see and what we dream of is a democratic Iraq in the center of the Middle East that will help stabilize that area for us. I'm one who believes that we're facing a new crusade, a crusade of a different type, by the militant Islamic extremists."
Stevens spent much of his time itemizing the wealth of federal spending and programs that he has secured for Alaska.
Some of the earmarks benefited his son, former state Senate President Ben Stevens, and a former aide, Trevor McCabe, and their clients.
He never mentioned those.
"I don't like the word 'earmark,'" Stevens told the crowd. Earmarks are just amendments to appropriations bills, he said.
"We don't add to the budget. And if ... I don't earmark these monies for Alaska, your taxes aren't going to go down. The money will simply go to other states for their needs and ours will go unmet," he told the packed room of movers and shakers.
Earmarks have been criticized for being hastily inserted with little accountability to the public.
But the senator said that the real question about earmarks is whether elected leaders or "employees in the bowels of some office" are better suited to decide where federal money should be sent.
"So I ask you, is it wrong for a village in rural Alaska to want help with providing running water when places like New York City get millions in federal funds for their water projects?"
LISTS HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
Stevens reeled off project after project that he brought to Alaska. Lighting for the many Alaska airports that had none. Upgrading Anchorage's 911 system. Restoring urban fisheries. Money for local communities to fight wildfires as they best saw fit. Money for youth courts. And much more.
He pointed to military expansion worth millions to Alaska: the Stryker brigade, the new F-22 fighter jets coming to Elmendorf Air Force Base, multiforce training at Eielson.
"Alaska will in fact be the key to the defense in coming decades," Stevens said.
Critics called a recent appropriation for firefighting in Anchorage "a waste of money," Stevens said. "I call it good government."
"Without our seniority, and I say this categorically, Alaska's share will go down," Stevens said.
Stevens said his role is simple.
"I believe I was sent there to do the best I can to get the money to meet the needs of this state."
The crowd clapped.
Stevens ended his talk defiantly:
"I'm proud of the job I've been able to do ... working for you and with you every day, regardless of the slings and arrows I face attacking what I've tried to do for Alaska and Alaskans."
The standing ovation went on for half a minute.
Find Lisa Demer online at adn.com/contact/ldemer or call 257-4390. Read Kyle Hopkins' political blog at adn.com/alaskapolitics. Reporter Richard Mauer contributed to this story.
By LISA DEMER and KYLE HOPKINS
Anchorage Daily News