Cheney's Link to Sen. Ted Stevens Corruption Trial

[L. Coyote]

Source: Newsweek Periscope

The Veep’s Pipeline Push - Michael Isikoff and Tony Hopfinger - Aug 23, 2008

A two-year-old letter by Vice President Dick Cheney that pushed a controversial Alaska natural-gas pipeline bill is getting renewed scrutiny because of recently disclosed evidence in the Justice Department's corruption case against Sen. Ted Stevens. In a conversation secretly tape-recorded by the FBI on June 25, 2006, Stevens discussed ways to get a pipeline bill through the Alaska Legislature with Bill Allen, an oil-services executive accused of providing the senator with about $250,000 in undisclosed financial benefits. According to a Justice motion, Stevens told Allen, "I'm gonna try to see if I can get some bigwigs from back here and say, 'Look … you gotta get this done'." Two days later, Cheney wrote a letter to the Alaska Legislature urging members to "promptly enact" a bill to build the pipeline. The letter was considered unusual because the White House rarely contacts state lawmakers about pending legislative matters. It also angered state Democrats, who accused Cheney of pushing oil-company interests. The former executive director of Cheney's energy task force had gone to work as a lobbyist for British Petroleum, one of three firms slated to build the pipeline.

Stevens confirmed to NEWSWEEK last week that he asked Cheney to write the letter. "We wanted the federal government to tell the state to act quickly on it," he said. (A spokesman for Alaska's other senator, Lisa Murkowski, said her office also had contacts with Cheney's office.) A Cheney spokeswoman said his office does not comment on pending legal matters.

In the motion, prosecutors said they want to show that Stevens, who has pleaded not guilty, used his political clout to benefit Allen's business interests while the oil exec was paying for renovations on the senator's home. As an example, the motion points out that Stevens discussed contacting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about the pipeline; soon after, FERC issued a report on the project "similar to the message delivered by Stevens." But the Justice motion made no mention of Cheney's letter. A department spokesman did not respond to requests for comment about why prosecutors did not also include the letter or whether they expect Cheney to come up at Stevens's trial, now slated to begin next month.

Read more: http://www.newsweek.com/id/154916

---

Another case on American Injustice?
Is the DoJ covering up crimes by the Vice-President?

"... the Justice motion made no mention of Cheney's letter."

This is all very suspicious, and the full extent of Big Oil's control of
American politics at the very highest levels is seemingly still being covered up.

[bronxiteforever]

1. Kick & R- A MUST read

[L. Coyote]

2. Deju DU: Stevens, Corrupt VECO CEO Campaign Contributions. More R Senators Involved.

Deju DU: Stevens, Corrupt VECO CEO Campaign Contributions. More R Senators Involved.
Oct-16-07 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2062738

Deja DU: Who's Who in the "Corrupt Bastards Club" ?? Nothing Fishy Here. MOVE ON
Oct-21-07 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2101151

Whose indictment is next? Dick Cheney? Don Young? Trent Lott? Dennis Hastert? Phil Gramm? ??

[L. Coyote]

3. Larisa Alexandrovna: Cheney pay-to-play...

August 24, 2008 - http://www.atlargely.com/2008/08/cheney-pay-to-p.html
Cheney pay-to-play...

Newsweek is reporting:

A two-year-old letter by Vice President Dick Cheney that pushed a controversial Alaska natural-gas pipeline bill is getting renewed scrutiny ......
But this is nothing new, because Cheney has done this before. I know, because I reported it two years ago.

Take a gander: (http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Whistleblowers_allege_influence_peddling_by_members_0329.html)

An explosive report, obtained in part by RAW STORY, and soon to be released by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), fingers high-level officials both on the federal and local California level in allegations of influence-peddling ensnaring members of both parties.

According to documents and whistleblowers concerning a San Diego wastewater treatment plant to be built in Tijuana, Mexico, Vice President Dick Cheney, Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Bob Filner (D-CA), and former congressman and current Republican congressional candidate Brian Bilbray have allegedly advanced the project despite serious concerns from those involved.

The proposed Bajagua Project is a secondary wastewater treatment plant for San Diego, named after the company, Bajagua Project, LLC, which was founded solely to get the no-bid contract for water treatment. The agreement is a private-public fee-for-service proposition that will charge the federal government billions. The estimated profit forecast for the project is upwards of $600 million dollars ....

Cheney met twice with Bajagua officials, on October 15, 2002 and again on September 4, 2003. Cheney is alleged to have pressured the Department of Justice and the Council on Environmental Quality to give Bajagua a pass on clean water concerns and the no-bid ......

[L. Coyote]

6. Raw Sewage & Pay-to-Play for Bajagua's no-bid money stream.

Donor name: Landa, Enrique
34 records found for this search: $62,150
	
4/11/2000	$5,000 	Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte (D)		
7/30/2004	$5,000 	National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)	
4/14/2008	$5,000 	National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)	
6/30/2005	$5,000 	National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)	
5/24/2000	$4,000 	National Republican Senatorial Cmte (R)	
5/24/2000	$4,000 	National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)
4/23/2003	$2,500 	National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)
4/23/2003	$2,500 	National Republican Congressional Cmte (R)
1/10/2008	$2,300 	Hunter, Duncan D (R)
10/26/2006	$2,100 	Bilbray, Brian P (R)
3/31/2005	$2,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
9/13/2004	$2,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
7/14/2003	$2,000 	Bush, George W (R)
12/24/2003	$1,750 	Filner, Bob (D)
3/31/2003	$1,500 	Hunter, Duncan (R)
7/15/1999	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)	
12/31/2000	$1,000 	Smith, Bob (R)	
7/15/1999	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
4/5/1999	$1,000 	Bilbray, Brian P (R)
11/20/2003	$1,000 	Issa, Darrell (R)
8/6/2002	$1,000 	Coleman, Norm (R)
8/6/2002	$1,000 	Coleman, Norm (R)
8/6/2002	$1,000 	Talent, James M (R)
8/6/2002	$1,000 	Talent, James M (R)
10/29/2002	$1,000 	Thune, John (R)
6/27/2001	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
11/1/2002	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
7/3/2002	$1,000 	Republican Pty of Fla Fed Campaign Acct (R)
5/14/1998	$500 	Filner, Bob (D)
12/21/1998	$500 	Filner, Bob (D)
10/20/1997	$500 	Filner, Bob (D)
1/27/2001	$500 	Oberstar, James L (D)
3/22/1996	$250 	Filner, Bob (D)
4/30/2003	$250 	Filner, Bob (D)

Donor name: Landa, Deloris	
Total for this search: $12,800		

3/31/2005	$2,000 	Filner, Bob (D)	
12/24/2003	$2,000 	Filner, Bob (D)	
9/13/2004	$2,000 	Filner, Bob (D)	
6/27/2001	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)	
11/1/2002	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)	
5/30/2000	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
5/30/2000	$1,000 	Filner, Bob (D)
5/1/1999	$800 	Filner, Bob (D)
7/14/2003	$2,000 	Bush, George W (R)

====================
Betting on Bajagua
Company's effort to build wastewater treatment plant in Tijuana creeps to conclusion, but questions about project continue to flow
Terry Rodgers and Mike Lee - November 13, 2005 - 


While nudging the project forward, Bajagua investors and their family members sprinkled approximately $200,000 in political contributions in the United States.

Filner was a major beneficiary, receiving about $45,000 since 1997. He said he's committed to a concept – not a company – and that the donations don't bias him.

Bajagua's contributions also were directed to at least one member of the San Diego City Council. ......

[L. Coyote]

10. RAW STORY: Whistleblowers allege influence peddling by Members of Congress, VP

Whistleblowers allege influence peddling by members of Congress, VP in Mexico wastewater project
March 29, 2006 - Miriam Raftery and Larisa Alexandrovna - http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Whistleblowers_allege_influence_peddling_by_members_0329.html

..... According to documents acquired by RAW STORY, on October 16, 2002, two days after Cheney met with Bajagua representatives in New Mexico, Hunter received two $2,000 campaign contributions from Pedro and Letitia Landa of Austin, Texas. Project insiders say they are related to Enrique Landa, a principal at Bajagua. In addition, a patent application filed by Pedro Enrique Landa lists Keith A. Shuley, an attorney at Hughes and Luce.

“The same attorney called me representing Bajagua,” said Professor William Weaver, J.D., Ph.D. Professor Weaver is Director of Academic Programs at the University of Texas and acts as a senior advisor to the National Whistleblowers Coalition.

When Cheney next met with Bajagua representatives on Sept. 4, 2003, Hunter had a meeting at the White House on the same date. A Sept. 5, 2003 e-mail sent to various International Boundary and Water Commission employees and leaked by a whistleblower remarks, “note coincidence – Bajagua met with VP Cheney yesterday and White House met with Hunter. Any read out from that meeting?”

Hunter met with International Boundary and Water commissioner Carlos Ramirez and acting commissioner Debra Little in 2003. .....

Landa, Dolores	7/14/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Landa, Enrique	7/14/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Landa, Leticia	9/30/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Landa, Pedro	9/30/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)

Here is a sort of the Landa's contributions, sorted by years, recipients, and date.

Landa, Enrique	3/22/96		  250		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	10/20/97	  500		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	5/14/98		  500		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	12/21/98	  500		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	4/5/99		1,000		Bilbray, Brian P (R)
Landa, Dolores	5/1/99		  800		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	5/1/99		  800		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	7/15/99		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	7/15/99		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)

Landa, Enrique	4/11/00		5,000		DCCC
Landa, Enrique	5/24/00	        4,000		NRSC
Landa, Enrique 	5/24/00		4,000		NRCC
Landa, Dolores	5/30/00		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	5/30/00		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	5/30/00		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	5/30/00		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	12/31/00	1,000		Smith, Bob (R)

Landa, Enrique	1/27/01		  500		Oberstar, James L (D)
Landa, Pedro	5/30/01		5,000		NRSC
Landa, Dolores	6/27/01		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	6/27/01		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	6/27/01		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)

Landa, Enrique	8/6/02		1,000		Coleman, Norm (R)
Landa, Enrique	8/6/02		1,000		Coleman, Norm (R)
Landa, Pedro	8/6/02		1,000		Coleman, Norm (R)
Landa, Pedro	8/6/02		1,000		Coleman, Norm (R)
Landa, Leticia	8/20/02		1,000		Coleman, Norm (R)
Landa, Dolores	11/1/02		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	11/1/02		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	11/1/02		1,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Leticia	10/16/02	1,000		Hunter, Duncan (R)
Landa, Pedro	10/16/02	1,000		Hunter, Duncan (R)
Landa, Enrique	7/3/02		1,000		Republican Pty of Fla Fed Campaign Acct (R)
Landa, Enrique	8/6/02		1,000		Talent, James M (R)
Landa, Enrique	8/6/02		1,000		Talent, James M (R)
Landa, Pedro	8/6/02		1,000		Talent, James M (R)
Landa, Pedro	8/6/02		1,000		Talent, James M (R)
Landa, Leticia	8/20/02		1,000		Talent, James M (R)
Landa, Enrique	10/29/02	1,000		Thune, John (R)

Landa, Dolores	7/14/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Landa, Enrique	7/14/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Landa, Leticia	9/30/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Landa, Pedro	9/30/03		2,000		Bush, George W (R)

Landa, Enrique	4/30/03		  250		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Leticia	12/17/03	2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Pedro	12/17/03	2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	12/24/03	1,750		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	12/24/03	2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	12/24/03	2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	3/31/03		1,500		Hunter, Duncan (R)
Landa, Enrique	11/20/03	1,000		Issa, Darrell (R)
Landa, Enrique	4/23/03		2,500		NRCC
Landa, Enrique	4/23/03		2,500		NRCC
Landa, Pedro	4/23/03		2,500		NRCC

Landa, Enrique	7/30/04		5,000		NRCC
Landa, Pedro	7/30/04		5,000		NRCC

Landa, Dolores	9/13/04		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	9/13/04		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	9/13/04		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Leticia	9/13/04		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Pedro	9/13/04		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)

Landa, Dolores	3/31/05		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Dolores	3/31/05		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique	3/31/05		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Leticia	3/31/05		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Pedro	3/31/05		2,000		Filner, Bob (D)

Landa, Enrique	6/30/05		5,000		NRCC
Landa, Pedro	6/30/05		5,000		NRCC

Landa, Enrique	10/26/06	2,100		Bilbray, Brian P (R)
Landa, Pedro	11/7/06		2,100		Bilbray, Brian P (R)

Landa, Enrique	1/10/08		2,300		Hunter, Duncan D (R)
Landa, Pedro	2/19/08		2,300		Hunter, Duncan D (R)
Landa, Enrique	4/14/08		5,000		NRCC
Landa, Pedro	4/14/08		5,000		NRCC

[L. Coyote]

11. Bajaguas political donations are apparently well coordinated

Upon examination of one more Bajagua investor, a pattern in donations is apparent:

Simmons, James 		10/21/06	  500		Bilbray, Brian P (R)
Landa, Enrique		10/26/06	2,100		Bilbray, Brian P (R)

Landa, Pedro		 9/30/03	2,000		Bush, George W (R)
Simmons, James 		 9/22/03	2,000		Bush, George W (R)

Landa, Enrique		 4/30/03	  250		Filner, Bob (D)
Simmons, James   	 4/30/03	  250		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Enrique		12/24/03	1,750		Filner, Bob (D)
Simmons, James   	12/24/03	1,750		Filner, Bob (D)
Landa, Pedro		 3/31/05	2,000		Filner, Bob (D)
Simmons, James    	 3/31/05	2,000		Filner, Bob (D)

Landa, Enrique		 3/31/03	1,500		Hunter, Duncan (R)
Simmons, James  	 3/31/03	1,500		Hunter, Duncan (R)

Landa, Pedro		 7/30/04	5,000		NRCC
Simmons, James 		 7/30/04	7,500		NRCC

Simmons, James  	 6/30/05	5,000		NRCC
Landa, Enrique		 6/30/05	5,000		NRCC

Landa, Enrique		12/31/00	1,000		Smith, Bob (R)
Simmons, James          12/31/00	1,000		Smith, Bob (R)

Landa, Enrique		10/29/02	1,000		Thune, John (R)
Simmons, James 		10/29/02	1,000		Thune, John (R)

Who else is involved?

[L. Coyote]

12. The Project On Government Oversight: Bajagua's No-Bid Deal

The Politics of Contracting: Bajagua's No-Bid Deal
http://www.pogo.org/p/contracts/Bajagua/co-060301-Bajagua.html

SUMMARY
There is no reason for the U.S. government to avoid competition for ownership and operation of wastewater treatment plants, whether they are located in the U.S.or in other countries. However, Bajagua Project, LLC, has effectively utilized the standard avenues of influence – campaign contributions, the revolving door, and lobbying – to apply pressure on the company’s behalf. As a result, a number of Members of Congress designed legislation to deliver a sole-source contract for the construction and operation of a wastewater treatment facility in Mexico. Going even further, some Members of Congress and current and former government employees went to bat for the company after the legislation passed, pressuring or lobbying several government agencies to move faster and actually award the contract to Bajagua.

.... At the time of Vice President Cheney’s second meeting with Bajagua, the Justice Department “expressed anxiety at having learned that Bajagua had gotten into high levels at OVP and State (Noriega).” (Appendix H) “OVP” stands for “Office of the Vice President” and “Noreiga” is the State Department’s Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roger Noriega.

In correspondence with POGO, former USIBWC Acting Commissioner Robert Ortega wrote that it was “understood that the Vice President’s office had directed” a 2003 meeting, organized by the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) “to coordinate the US agencies (OMB, DOJ, EPA, IBWC, etc.) to resolution of execution of the PL106-457.” (Appendix H)

After the meeting, DOJ, EPA, and USIBWC changed their positions regarding the Bajagua proposal. For instance, Ortega wrote that, after the meeting, there was a shift in the Justice Department’s opinion regarding the legality of granting Bajagua a sole-source contract:

Prior to the Bush administration, the DOJ as represented by attorney Randall Humm was in agreement with IBWC that Bajagua could not be issued a sole source contract. I believe there were a few filings with the Surfriders and the California State Water Quality Control Board to this effect. Afterwards, above <2003> meeting was called and DOJ represented by John Cruden took the opposite view of sole source contracting with Bajagua and strongly tried to convince the IBWC. (Appendix H) ......

[L. Coyote]

13. GAO Confirms That Bajagua Project Is A Stinky Deal

April 25, 2008 - http://www.pogo.org/p/contracts/ca-080425-bajagua.html

For Immediate Release
Contact Nick Schwellenbach, 202-347-1122

Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08595r.pdf) substantiated many of POGO's findings from our 2006 report on the Bajagua project. Follow the link for POGO's report (http://www.pogo.org/p/contracts/Bajagua/co-060301-Bajagua.html).

The GAO report detailed numerous aspects of a questionable sweetheart deal to use federal funds to pay a private U.S. company, Bajagua, LLC, for a wastewater treatment plant in Mexico. Bajagua's proposal faces numerous technical, regulatory and financial challenges.

The report found "that the Bajagua, LLC project includes more unresolved issues than the upgrade, such as the need to obtain over 30 permits, approvals, and concessions from both U.S. and Mexican authorities; the need to resolve significant issues in its draft fee-for-services agreement with the USIBWC; and other legal and technical issues which could delay its schedule."

The Bajagua project would cost an estimated $200 million more in taxpayer dollars over twenty years than an alternative proposal put forth by the government.

"The GAO's report confirms that the Bajagua project is a stinky deal that is bad for taxpayers and the environment of Southern California," said POGO investigator Nick Schwellenbach.

In 2007, POGO's report also generated two investigative reports in the Wall Street Journal and San Diego Magazine.

Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve a more accountable federal government.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07029/758003-84.stm

http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/media/San-Diego-Magazine/December-2007/A-Sewer-Runs-Through-It/

[predfan]

4. Surely you're not talking about Dick Cheney the Vice President, not that one.

Someone might think he was insincere.

A friend mentioned something the other day...........imagine in 1999 a group of oilmen decided to find a candidate who can, one. be elected President, and two, be manipulated. Cheney says he knows just the guy. And their sole goal is to reopen the Iraqi oilfields, open up ANWAR, and set the stage for off shore drilling.

Mission accomplished.

[RufusTFirefly]

5. Sociopathy is a powerful, almost god-like trait

I read so much of this appalling, depressing stuff and wonder "How do these guys sleep at night?" But then I realize that they probably sleep just fine. I am projecting my own sense of decency and fair play and conscience on people who have no sense of any of these things.

It must be amazingly liberating for them. Imagine what it would be like to move through the world, taking anything you want without guilt or hesitation, even if it hurts others.

[fascisthunter]

7. I've Been Saying it for Years... To the Religious, These People Embody Evil

to athiests, they are sociopaths.

Those who follow them, are not what they claim to be...

[RufusTFirefly]

8. Yes. Ernest Partridge wrote about this recently as well

Evil as the Absence of Empathy

“Absence of empathy” is the essence of evil which, if unchecked and unreversed, is certain to bring about the demise of the American republic as we know it, just as it led to the advent of the Third Reich.

[fascisthunter]

9. interesting...

another book to read.

[L. Coyote]

14. TPM: Cheney Link to Stevens Case

Cheney Link to Stevens Case
Zachary Roth - August 25, 2008 - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/cheney_link_to_stevens_case.php


..... Newsweek notes that the former executive director of Cheney's energy task force had gone on to work as a lobbyist for BP, which would have built the pipeline. The magazine doesn't name the task force director, but it appears to be Andrew Lundquist. And it's worth pointing out that Lundquist -- who had worked as the Bush-Cheney campaign's energy expert in 2000, earning the nickname "Lightbulb" from the president -- has also worked as a top aide to Stevens.

Newsweek also reports that DOJ prosecutors did not include Cheney's letter in their motion and did not respond when the magazine asked why.

[L. Coyote]

15. TPM: Why Didn't DOJ Name Cheney in Stevens Filing?

Why Didn't DOJ Name Cheney in Stevens Filing?
By Zachary Roth - August 25, 2008 - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/why_didnt_doj_name_cheney_in_s.php


We learned over the weekend, via Newsweek, that there's a Dick Cheney connection to the Ted Stevens case. But are federal prosecutors looking the other way?

.... when it comes to Stevens calling on Cheney, the prosecutors -- who are from the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section, and the U.S. attorney's office in Alaska -- go strangely silent.

One former government prosecutor we spoke to said he could see little reason why the link to Cheney wouldn't have been mentioned. The most charitable explanation, the ex-prosecutor said, is that the government thought that bringing in Cheney would unnecessarily bog the case down. The least charitable is that they were "trying to protect Cheney."

Another former federal corruption prosecutor agreed, writing in an email to TPMMuckraker: .............

The source cautioned, however, that prosecutors may not have had evidence that Stevens was behind Cheney's letter, before Stevens confirmed it to Newsweek.

A DOJ spokesperson did not immediately return a call for comment.

[L. Coyote]

16. dKos: DOJ Covers up Cheney/Stevens Link

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/26/122214/652

Digg links:
TPM Muckraker - http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/TPM_Why_Didn_t_DOJ_Name_Cheney_in_Stevens_Filing?OTC-fft-4
Newsweek - http://digg.com/politics/Cheney_s_Link_to_Sen_Ted_Stevens_Corruption_Trial?OTC-fft-4