How Much Did Sen. Ted Stevens’ House Renovation Really Cost?

A new development this morning in the criminal investigation of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. The Seattle Times reports on its interview with David Anderson, a foreman for the corrupt oilfield services company, Veco, who supervised the renovation of Stevens’ Girdwood, Ak., home. Anderson is the nephew of former Veco chairman Bill Allen, who has pleaded guilty to bribery in the wide-ranging federal criminal investigation into political corruption in Alaska.

According to Anderson, Veco provided $150,000 worth of labor renovating the Stevens home, which the FBI raided earlier this year as part of its investigation into Stevens and his connection with the Veco. That’s compared to the “more than $130,000” Stevens claimed last summer to have paid for the renovation. So if labor alone was $150,000, what does that make the total price tag on the project? That’s not clear:

Anderson, 48, said the total remodeling cost, including materials and subcontractors, was way above $130,000.

“We did all kinds of stuff, so it’s ludicrous to think that it’s only $130,000,” Anderson said in a November interview. “Labor alone was more than that.”

Anderson said he cannot provide a full account of all the costs because he never received a project budget from Allen and did not review all the expenses. Also, he said Stevens never asked for an estimate.

Anderson had a falling out with his uncle several years ago. Anderson claims he was fired from Veco because he started dating his uncle’s ex-girlfriend. Allen has, in turn, accused Anderson of blackmail.

Among the political tasks Anderson undertook during his 25 years working for Veco was “the welding of a pork rotisserie used at annual campaign fundraisers hosted by Allen for U.S. Rep. Don Young, Alaska’s lone House member.” As longtime readers know, Young’s annual Pig Roast is just one of his connections to Veco, which have also come under scrutiny from federal investigators.