Witnesses Say Stevens Paid for Renovations of Home

15 Oct 2008 // The owner of an Alaska construction business testified Tuesday that Sen. Ted Stevens ’ wife paid him thousands of dollars towards a renovation of the senator’s home in Girdwood, Alaska.

Augie Paone, owner of Christensen Builders, testified that former VECO Corp. CEO Bill Allen approached him towards the end of the summer in 2000 about joining VECO’s effort to renovate Stevens’ “chalet” in Girdwood.

Improvements to the senator’s home constitute most of the more than $250,000 in gifts the Stevens is charged with knowingly concealing. Federal prosecutors contend VECO — not Stevens — paid for them.

Stevens maintains that he has done nothing wrong and that he and his wife, Catherine, paid all the costs associated with the renovation that they knew about. Catherine Stevens could take the stand Tuesday afternoon, as could Bob Persons, a friend who Stevens entrusted to manage the renovation, and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch , R-Utah.

Paone identified two invoices for work he performed at the Stevens’ house and two subsequent checks — one for roughly $15,400 and the other for $16,000 — signed by Catherine Stevens to cover the cost detailed in those invoices.

Tom Swanson, a private contractor in Girdwood, also testified Tuesday that Stevens’ wife paid him in September 2000 to remove a tree on the property.

The defense already has called other witnesses to testify that Catherine Stevens paid them for lifting the house off its original foundation so that a new first floor could be constructed and for moving some dirt in preparation for the renovation.

As his trial enters its fourth week, the senator is poised to take the stand to defend himself personally against the corruption charges that have been lodged against him.

Stevens’ lawyers informed a federal court in Washington on Tuesday that the senator may testify as soon as Wednesday.