BP Declines to Discuss Allegations That It Helped Cover Cost of Stevens’ Home RenovationsBP appeared unfazed by allegations that it may have helped cover costs related to Sen. Ted Stevens’ (R-AK) home renovations, and declined to say whether they were investigating the matter, or discuss it in any way with TPMmuckraker.
“We have done a significant amount of business with VECO over the years. They were one of the largest oil contractors in the state, and we don’t discuss our business with our contractors,” a BP press representative said this morning.
As we previously reported, the Anchorage Daily News published a Sunday expose of two former VECO employees who oversaw construction on Stevens’ home. One of those employees, David Anderson, claimed that a VECO client, BP Exploration, had “possibly” borne the costs of some of the Stevens’ renovations.
But curiously, Anderson himself backpeddled on his statements in a second story, published late last night, by the ADN:
Last week, Anderson said some of the labor charges were passed on to an oil company that was paying Veco to build a North Slope module at the time in its shop, probably BP, though not necessarily with the knowledge of the oil company. He affirmed that Saturday.
But on Sunday, Anderson said he was mistaken and only knew for sure that Veco covered the costs, not that they were passed through to a Veco client. That accounting took place in a Veco office outside the scope of his job, he said Sunday.
Stevens was indicted last week on seven counts of false statements, stemming from his failure to disclose the $250,000 worth of renovations made to his home by the oil company VECO. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, and his trial is scheduled for September 24, where Anderson may testify.
