Presumption of innocence can’t trump public trust

For nearly 40 years, U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens has been the face of Alaska to the rest of the nation. His political service predates statehood. Under Stevens’ watch, our state has thrived.

He was instrumental in pushing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act in 1973, which paved the way for the North Slope oil pipeline that has fueled the state’s economy for decades. He also sponsored the Amateur Sports Act that established the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1978, which still acts as the nation’s governing body for amateur athletics.

Despite the list of political accomplishments the 84-year-old career politician has built up over the decades, it’s the growing list of alleged misdeeds and misuse of his position as a public servant that may prove to be his downfall, and his ultimate legacy. Stevens is the biggest fish so far caught in the net of federal investigators — he was indicted Tuesday on seven felony charges of hiding more than $250,000 in gifts and home improvements from VECO oil services company. But perhaps more damning for the U.S. Senate’s most senior serving member is how his indictment has been received here in Alaska.

There is no widespread shock.

There is no overall disbelief.

There have been no loud cries of injustice — except from Stevens’ own office.

Instead, the allegations against Stevens come as the latest shoe to fall off the state’s political centipede. Although on the national news circuit, Stevens’ indictment is a political bombshell, here in his home state we’re not surprised.

But the curious reaction to Stevens began more than two years ago when the offices of state lawmakers were raided by federal authorities. It’s been cultivated by seven other convictions, indictments or guilty pleas all stemming from the same investigation into VECO’s influence on making public policy. A quick recap:

• Former state House member Pete Kott was convicted Sept. 25, 2007, on bribery and corruption charges and sent away for six years.

• We recently watched former Valley lawmaker Vic Kohring wave goodbye before reporting to serve out a 42-month sentence on a Nov. 1, 2007, conviction on bribery and conspiracy convictions.

• Former state legislator Bruce Weyrauch was indicted in May 2007 and still awaits trial.

• Former VECO executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith pleaded guilty to bribing lawmakers and are testifying against them as part of their plea agreements.

• Jim Clark, former chief of staff for former Gov. Frank Murkowski, pleaded guilty to accepting illegal campaign help from VECO.

• And just last month, state Sen. John Cowdry was indicted on alleged bribery charges stemming from the same investigation.

In addition to the VECO scandal, former state House member Tom Anderson was convicted July 9, 2007, for accepting bribes from a private prison firm and sentenced to five years in prison. Former Anchorage municipal lobbyist Bill Bobrick testified against Anderson and admitted to trying to bribe Anderson on behalf of  the prison firm, Cornell Companies.

It’s no wonder that by the time federal investigators had their ducks in a row to bring charges against Stevens our reaction has been one of an electorate jaded by two years of political corruption. It seems many have lost trust in government and the process of elected representation.

Stevens maintains his innocence, and under our legal system he’s entitled to that presumption. In a statement from his office, the longtime senator says that, “It saddens me to learn that these charges have been brought against me. I have never knowingly submitted a false disclosure form required by law as a U.S. senator.”

Mr. Senator, we are saddened as well. It saddens us that as these investigations continue to unfold, our representatives to state and federal government trade their trust for a presumption of innocence.