As we’re reporting over at TPMmuckraker.com, a Commerce committee clerk who helps keep Sen. Stevens’ personal financial affairs in order has testified before the grand jury investigating Stevens’ ties to VECO corporation, the oil services outfit that helped him out renovating his pad back in Alaska.
But why does a senate staffer help a senator pay his personal bills exactly?
The AP seemed to have a similar question …
Flanders is a longtime aide who helps ensure that Stevens’ bills are paid and his personals affairs are in order, the attorney said. She was questioned about the improvement project and how the bills were paid.
Reached by telephone Tuesday, Flanders would not discuss her testimony or describe her duties involving Stevens’ personal accounts.
“I work for the Commerce Committee,” she said. “I don’t have any comment on any other issues.”
At first I thought that they were saying that Flanders helped make sure Stevens’ senate disclosure filings were in order. But here it sounds much more like she acts as his personal bookkeeper. Anyone up on the Hill want to drop us a line about how common this is? Or if you know anything more about it?
I think I recall that there are some senate staffers who are paid a portion of their salaries from the government payroll and some other portion by the member personally. But my recollection on that is hazy and I may misremembering that entirely.
Anyway, if you can add more to this, drop us a line.
