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'Lay Really Low,' Stevens Says On Tape

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The Associated Press

Published: October 7, 2008

WASHINGTON - In October 2006, a longtime loyalist of Sen. Ted Stevens called him with a big problem: The FBI, he said, was breathing down his neck about a makeover of the senator's mountain cabin.

Stevens responded by cautioning the friend, Bill Allen, that they "ought to lay really low right now" and "stick this out together."

Unbeknownst to the veteran Alaskan lawmaker, Allen had already agreed to work with investigators and secretly tape their phone calls - evidence made public for the first time Monday at Steven's corruption trial.

Stevens, 84, is charged with lying on financial disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in cabin renovations and other gifts from Allen and his oil pipeline firm, VECO Corp.

On tape, the senator says, "I think they're probably listening to this conversation right now. We might have to pay a fine and spend a little time in jail," he continues. "I hope it doesn't come to that."

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